So how long will my 20 month DD play with washing up bowl and water ?

[BabiesEverywhere]

Feeling a little guilty here. I'm Mumsnetting on the sofa, whilst my DD has spent the last 30 minutes crouching down on the dustcover (covering the carpet) playing with the washing up bowl with water, washing up liquid bubbles and a cheap plastic cup.

So how much long can I expect to slob out before she empties the water onto the carpet and how bad a parent am I to let her play with crap bits out of the kitchen. In my defense I am pregnant and too tired to face any more housework.

LOL, she is being soooo quiet.

Not bad, so far only small cup of water/foam on floor due to accidently spillage. I think we are having a very late tea tonight, not going to drag my DD away from her game when she is playing so nicely.

Heaven. Enjoy it.

Hey, there's nothing wrong at all with what you're doing. In fact, what your daughter is doing is the best kind of play - she's using her imagination and learning to be self reliant. When my two were her age, they loved best of all to play with 'grown up' things ie mobile phones, cutlery, keys, food, cd cases, shoes etc etc. You are being the best parent by providing her with such a stimulating game! Give yourself a pat on the back for your ingenuity!

Oh my dd LOVES doing this. You can add an assortment of random kitchen stuff too - milk bottle tops (the plastic counters), corks, a funnel, different sized containers, a sieve, ice cube tray... um... anything goes.

Dd has a cupboard in the kitchen (inspired by my mum who was a nursery teacher) that has all manner of excitement. Well, excitement for a 23mth old . She is now really into 'cooking' with all her kitchen crap paraphernalia and uses the kitchen trolley as a makeshift oven.

Think it's very important for children to be allowed to experiment and be imaginative with non-toy objects - it is fascinating to watch or go on mumsnet. So no need to feel guilty, you are being a fabulouso mum!

I have just finished cleaning up. Nice to hear that I am developing her mind not ignoring her

She started 'accidently' on purpose pouring water on the dustcover. I know it was on purpose as she said 'Oh, dear' before the water hit the floor LOL, I struggled to keep a straight face. She ran to get the handtowel and mopped it up and then did it again. So I told her that we were clearing up in 5 minutes and we'll play again another day. Not happy the water went away but no tandrum which is good (just recently started tandruming but the 5 minute warning of things ending seems to be working)

She has no tea set, I'll have to get her one for her birthday. But I will have a rumage around the kitchen and see what she can borrow.

Roll on summer and we can play outside

Sounds lovely Babies!

Bet she won't play with the teaset...

Good point, no point wasting money, I'll get the MIL to buy her one instead

Aye, good present idea. Dd loves hers (second-hand from carboot) though - it's very often 'tea time' in our house. And for some reason tea usually consists of a small bouncy ball which we have to stir and then balance on the teaspoon

Also lots of dried pasta is brill for when you can't be arsed to do water play... (as long as they won't eat it of course. actually it's still pretty messy anyway).

enjoy it you can deal with the wet floor later after a long relax on the couch

This is a great little pastime for small children!

I've just introduced the sink with warm water a squirt of washing up liquid and some plastic tubs and spoons to my ds who's 19 months old, he adores it. It's really good if I'm making dinner and he's tired and grumpy, it takes his mind of everything, he's even started pulling a chair from the table over to the sink so he can stand on it.