4 yr old and 1 yr old - need ideas for playtime

[Lisa229]

Just feel I have lost my way a bit with doing stuff with dd1 since dd2 was born. When it was just dd1, we seem to do more stuff at home - creative stuff, painting, puzzles, games, role-play etc as well as her going to nursery 2 afternoons a week. When dd2 was born, she was very hard work for the first 6 months and I admit I did use the tv more than I normally would have to occupy her.

Now, that seems to have continued. She goes to nursery every morning but we have the afternoons together on the 2 days I don't work and I'd like to do more with her. When I suggest things like painting, creative stuff, she doesn't seem to be as interested anymore. Role play doesn't really last very long and she seems to have gone right off things like puzzles. But she always says, can I watch some tv. I don't mind sometimes but I want us to do some other stuff together too. I'm looking for things when dd2 is asleep so we get some quality time together rather than her just wanting to watch tv. And also when dd2 is awake as I seem to spend a lot of time keeping an eye on dd2 now she is crawling and cruising, and dd1 seems to get annoyed with her for trying to grab her things if we are playing something.

Sorry for the ramble... not sure I have expressed myself properly but hope someone else knows what I am trying to get at.

What about cooking something simple such as rice crispy cakes. My kids are a similar age and my eldest will ask for tv a lot. I've now banned tv in the mornings as I'm fed up with the constant pestering and he seems to have got the message as he plays a lot better than he used to and no longer askes for the tv in the mornings.

We have the same age gap

What about putting on a specific program or film so it has an end, with something planned before and after. Wean her off it gently as it were?

We put ds inthe high chair and do lego or painting at the table, he seems ok with that for a while then I take him away and dd carries on while I sort out the 1 year old. Same with cooking, he enjoys sitting in his chair to watch with a something to munch on as long as it doesnt last too long.

We go for long walks too

I will be watching this thread with interest as we could do with some ideas as well!

The age gap here is smaller but I got DS to play at the dining table (puzzles etc) so that DD couldn't ruin anything he had created.

Salt dough was a good one too as DS would make things and DD would just enjoy handling it. Safer than playdough because it tastes so foul you can be sure baby won't eat it.

Also game they can play together (with you)like older making sandcastles in the sand pit or towers out of blocks for younger child to knock down.

my dds are the same age as your two, my dd1 loves making things put baby in his high chair or somewhere safe where he can watch you and dd and do some pianting or sticking. atm dd1 is really into making cards.

she wants to make some plaster of paris fridge magnets today. tesco do a great range of craft stuff for young ones. and dd2 loves watching us. i sometimes give her a crayon and bit of card to scribble on while we are making so she feels she is joining in.

I could have written your post, six months ago! Word for word, pretty much. dd2 had reflux and breathing issues, so....

DVDs instead of TV, they have a finite end. I also have a stash of 'educational' DVDs (dd is bilingual-ish, so in her case she's occasionally allowed one after lunch but it has to be a French one - you could get some how-to-draw type ones, or language ones, or something) which help for the odd occasions when I am at a loss and its not a designated tv time.

Yes to playdough (dd2 will eat it, but its nontoxic ) and doing things at table, if they want to. Yes to long walks, and nature-spotting type things - dd1 takes a little bag and 'collects' leaves, grasses, fallen flowers etc dd2 is now copying her at 18 months.

I have boxes of safe small objects in dd1's room (dd2's favourite place in the world, of course) which dd1 doesn't mind dd2 playing with.

Most of all, this phase won't last that long: mine are now 4.5 and 1.5 and its a lot easier. And absolutely, dd1 started getting very cross when dd2 started moving and grabbing her things - so we gave her some control by putting precious toys in her room, where dd2 is only allowed to go supervised/when dd1 says yes, and agreeing that everything in kitchen/sitting room is ok to share.

I promise it gets easier!

Oh, nearly forgot - I made extra fuss of dd1 around this stage, bought her (second hand is fine) some 'big girl' toys that dd2 wasn't allowed to play with. Polly Pocket, IIRCC.

thanks for the suggestions. Hadn't thought about playdough for dd2, will give that a go. To be honest, haven't let DD2 do much in the way of creative like crayons. DD2 also likes dd1 room for playing with all her stuff!

Same age gap here too - and same problems! Except my DD1s vice is the computer (which was a godsend while I was strapped to the sofa feeding DD2 in the early days)

I got the paddling pool out the other day and filled it so it was only just up to DD1s ankles, so safe for DD2 to be in as well. It kept both of them entertained for about an hour! obv. no good if you don't have a garden , but you could always try filling one with those plastic balls and turn it into a mini ball pool!

Other things we do is make obstacle courses (for DD1 to do and DD2 to crawl all over), and camps (dd2 loves being in there with a few choice snacks to nibble on).... basically anything physical which they can do together!