DD is nearly 18 months. She has an 8 week old brother who has arrived and shaken things up for her, though thankfully for us all he is so far a pretty content little soul. She attends nursery 2 days a week and when we are at home we generally try and keep busy, visiting granny, park and play groups. But there comes times when we just have to stay home and I think this sounds awful but i think we both find it difficult.
When we are at home I try and alternate between leaving her to it and actively playing, stacking blocks or cups, shape sorter, dolls and cups of tea etc but she seems to get bored so quickly these days and tends towards the things she knows I will stop her doing, climbing up to stand on chairs or dragging the fire guard and most difficult of all, scratching or hitting the little one.
I tell her no firmly, explain why she cant do what she is doing, if she carries on I tend to put her down on the floor but this becomes the game. It seems like she resists engaging in the activities im suggesting though I try and give lots of praise and positive attention while we play. It definitely gets worse when she is tired, which she is often though she still has a good nap and sleeps well at night (thank the lord, long may it continue! ) Wondering if anyone has any ideas of breaking the cycle, maybe new activities as it does tend to be pretty samey, have orderd a few more crafty things, stickers and paint though not sure she has the atrention span, have started letting her watch cooking and helping stir things etc when its safe as she seems to want to be close by much of the time. Since ds arrived she is definitely more clingy and I have tried to go with that as far as possible though I cant always pick her up or whatever and this results in lots of tears. Poor thing, just feel she is quite stressed, definitely getting more teeth too. Not sure what I am asking other than has anyone else been here?