Looking for some advice from the CM experts

[Mafrac]

Hoping to pick your brains a bit here.

I have a 2 year old DD and a 3 month old DS.

Pre DS, DD and I would be out and about a lot, acttivity groups, the park, visiting. Of course we did reading and painting etc at home when we were there but.......since DS arrived I'm at home more often and am tearing my freaking hair out to come up with something "fun" for her to do.

I mean, I know she has to have down time and she will potter or busy herself for short spells during the day but I'm really looking for some ideas as to what indoor activities we could do ?

We do get out and about with DS but weather here has been bad of late and it has really shown me how limited my range of "fun ideas" is.

Thanks in advance

ooooh

If you can bear mess and clearing up:

String painting - basically soak string in the paint and let her make marks on paper/card (this works REALLY well on those small square canvases, brilliant gifts for family), or marble painting (shallow tray, line with paper, marbles and paints, tilt the tray), or gloop (cornflour and water) super-tactile, or ice cubes to observe/handle

moon sand is good, doesn't make too much mess, hurrah, low supervision need too

threading cherios/pasta on string

baking with a tiny baby - if you are short on time, then short-cut with bought fairy cakes, small bowls of coloured icing, sprinkles, she can decorate with minimum effort from you

NB I am not an expert

Thanks for the ideas - love the string painitng and baking ones especially.

Have seen moon sand advertised but was told by a friend it was the plaything of the devil but will give it another look.

Playdough I find leads to lots of play. We have cutters and dinosaur feet, head, tail which get added to lumps of playdough.

You can make playdough at home very easily. It's cheap as well. You probably have the ingredients except for enough salt (unless you already buy that by the bag).

There's also shredded paper - great fun for chucking about.

Gloop - basically very tick cornflour and water mix which is fascinating to play with.

Make a cardboard target and throw scrunched up newspaper balls at it.

Water painting - a pot of water and a paintbrush in the garden.

Orchard Toys do some lovely simple board games for two year olds.

Aquadraw mats are great and none-messy.

A long piece of string across the living room, some pegs and some socks to peg out and pair up can be good fun.

A tray with a layer of sand, sugar or shaving foam to make marks in.

Making her own sandwiches for lunch.

Water play at the kitchen sink.

Den building with chairs, pegs and an old sheet, then a picnic inside.

HTH

thick cornflour!

My two year old loves to take care of her own baby dolly alongside me changing, feeding, bathing etc the real baby. She is especially keen on charging around the house with him (dolly that is!) in a buggy, and we also have to take dolly out to the shop and the park. She also loves cooking. Topping pizzas with vegetables, ham, salami, cheese etc is fun if you get fed up with iced cakes. Oh and she loves the dressing up box - though remnants of interesting material, silky scarves and sparkly odds and ends are better for creative play than the off-the-peg disney princess type outfits in my view.

Ah ladies you have inspired me - thanks so much.

Looking forward to doing lots of the things suggested.