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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Mine! So bored playing with DS Also addicted to MN Help!

20 replies

starbear · 12/02/2009 23:13

The past few months I have become addicted to MN and find playing with DS 4 yrs sooo boring. He is an only child that doesn't play on his own unless I'm on the same floor as him or playing with him. Housework is boring me to tears, the weather is crap so don't fancy going to the swings. Playing cars not my scene. I do read him books and comics. Don't mind the train set. But I can't make any more biscuits with him as I'm eating them all. His play mates are in full time nursery now! We have been indoors the last three days as he has tonsillitis. I work part-time so the housework does need to be done not just go out and have coffee on play dates. Help!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

shonaspurtle · 12/02/2009 23:16

Can you get him to "help" with the housework? Ds is a dab hand with a broom .

(I don't know whether a 4yr old will have caught on to lie that cleaning is "fun" yet)

dragonbutter · 12/02/2009 23:17

Maybe he's just as bored.
You both need a project together.

AccidentalMum · 12/02/2009 23:18

I don't bother with housework and just go out constantly to museums and galleries and surestart places, my 3.5 old is running out of playmates too....is a bit rubbish. Can you take up his 3/4yr funding somewhere?

AccidentalMum · 12/02/2009 23:19

If he can make biscuits, he can probably do something more useful too, that is a good point. DD1 took over making the cake completely today, will have to target this new found dexterity better

Original poster

starbear · 12/02/2009 23:25

dragonbutter Any suggestions welcome.
He is very good at helping with the cooking (that's why I'm a bit chubby) putting away plates should I risk it? Maybe I should. I need to clean out cupboards and throw away stuff. He thinks we need to keep everything and has a tizz. IT TAKES FOREVER!
AccidentalMum I think your right the house work isn't being done anyway. I only have him two days of a week day. Gymnastics on Monday for 1 hour. Friday nothing. We live in London I've gone MN brain dead give me a project with my DS pls.

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SlartyBartFast · 12/02/2009 23:29

painting?
playdough?
i remember the nightmare of trying to tidy the house with younguns.
still have a nightmare of tryign to tidy house, so perhaps it was my excuse.
lower your priorities?

get him to help sort laundry, may be

AccidentalMum · 12/02/2009 23:31

You live in London! I thought you were going to say that you live in the middle of nowhere and didn't have museums hehe. And stoopid Q about the funding...I forget that if you are at work, you tend to have them the whole day the rest of the time.

DD1 can fold laundry, clean appliances and surfaces and can stack/ unstack a dishwasher where there is one. Also 'gardening'.

dragonbutter · 12/02/2009 23:34

what about beading, i don't know much about it but i think my 4 year old would be interested. you could make some jewellery for family.

my ds1 is asking to make a mosaic with me as it's something i do anyway. what about something like that, that you can both enjoy?

Original poster

starbear · 12/02/2009 23:36

Gardening we love. Its just sooo cold right now. I think I'm bored because we've stayed in this week which is a bit unnatural for us.

OP posts:

SlartyBartFast · 12/02/2009 23:37

i dont blame you.
i hate being stuck indoors.
i hope he is better soon.
otherwise wrap him up well and take him tomorrow

Original poster

starbear · 13/02/2009 08:17

AccidentalMum If your bored of London you must be bored of life.I'm bored and boring. But I have lived here my whole life. Mum took us to all the museums, I then did the same for my nephews. Spent this Christmas either at the Natural History, Transport or Tate Modern. Really must hunt out those further a field.
Oh! here I am again on MN instead of doing something interesting! 5mins more on this and I'll sort us out and go out!

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Original poster

starbear · 13/02/2009 10:34

Better today, Ds playing with Lego & cars I'm doing laundry in between light MNing.

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MilaMae · 13/02/2009 11:00

I've just discovered a fab website think it's www.kidscraftweekly.

I posted in arts and craft(may have sunk down a bit), it really is good.It's run by an Australian mum so not too American. Have a look on the newsletter page and printables. I've made a huge list of projects to do with my dc during half term. It's all stuff you have around the house.

My lot 5,5 and 4 will be doing the split pin diggers,playdough faces,seed letters and the mag faces on paper plates. Tesco do cheap craft stuff if you need to stock up.

I also make a list of every toy we have in the house(I forget otherwise) so when they're bored I can suggest ideas.

I really don't think you need to amuse him all the time.

Original poster

starbear · 13/02/2009 20:09

Thank you will have a look.

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babyphat · 13/02/2009 20:39

museum of childhood? geffrye museum? museum of london? food adventures at cheap restaurants - song que for noodles, tapas type places where you can just have a dish or 2 each? cheap cinema showings - think kids can get in for a quid at my local (brixton ritzy) or perhaps that's weekends? free samples at borough market on a thursday? riding around on top decks of buses if he is that way inclined (maybe that was just me as a kid haha)

perhaps you could give him a job and you do a job, as an incentive for fun in the afternoons?

babyphat · 13/02/2009 20:41

ps clearly talking out of my arse as lo is too small to protest and hence comes with us wherever we want to go, doubtless once big enough to express an opinion it won't be so easy. but i think it's easy to get stuck in a london rut - we ended up again at the tate the other month before realising we both hate it! (me and dp not me and dd!)

noonki · 13/02/2009 20:57

milamae - thanks for that website it's fabulous.

got me all into doing crafty stuff with the kids again

noonki · 13/02/2009 21:04

starbear - I have banned myself using MN when kids are around as I basically a crap mother to them then!

It's not really fair on them imo.

How about finding a friend that you can do childcare swaps with.

Then your DS has a playmate and you will get sometime on your own to do what you want.

AccidentalMum · 13/02/2009 21:52

Awww, I didn't mean to be mean....just that I am from London (sort of) and often think when I am out at our local (hardly provincial) museums etc. that they are so much better and more numerous in London.

Also banning daytime mning here too I think

Original poster

starbear · 14/02/2009 17:40

babyphat Going to make a list of various places and go to them once a month before he goes to school in September. I have to compress housework into a shorter time and get it done.
AccidentalMum No problem. I did need to be told. Just have to go further a field than the ones near Waterloo.
noonki Most of my friends are stay at home Mum's and would like adult company not just one more kid. They are lovely as they take care of DS on the odd days I work extra. Last year we would all go up town together on the train but they now have kids in school or school nursery. So they get their time on their own.
Thanks for all the advice must just get my lazy butt in gear

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