What can I do with kids while WFH?

[Moggi]

I have struck up a fantastic deal with one my daughter’s friends mum RE childcare during the week. I pick up both girls one day a week and we have a play date/dinner while her mum is in the office and she repays the favour on my in the office day later in the week. It’s a great arrangement, and we all get on very well however the other mum works part time and usually takes them to the park etc.

I am very fortunate in that I have a lazy girl job - I work from home 3 days a week and usually get my work for the day finished by lunchtime so I am more than able to take care of the girls but I am limited to staying online and home in case there is a work emergency. Has anyone any ideas what I can do with them as I am running out of ideas now (we’ve done cinema night, crafts, dance shows etc). They generally need an activity as if they’re left to just colour or free play it does get a little wild! They are both 5.

TIA XX

Feel free to read the thread @ActDottie 😁

For shame! What I think you should do after you've done your work is go outside and offer to scrub everyone's steps.

Also, are there any vacancies please?

@HauntedPencil 😂😂😂 if you have any particularly minging steps I’d be happy to come over and give them a scrub for you. Unfortunately no! Very low turnover of staff… funny that!

Board games ( jenga, connect 4)

Drawing game - paper each, draw a head fold over to the neck lines then swap for torso, fold over, swap for lower body fold and then feet. Always fun seeing what crazy creation kids come up with.

Child friendly YouTube workout / Dance

https://www.familyfuntwincities.com/indoor-games-for-kids/

@Moggi - I apologise.

This is so true. I have one day a week WFH and I have both my girls once a week. It's a cushty little arrangement I've got with my boss who knows how expensive childcare is and tends to not bother me unless something comes up. However my colleague could also work from home and does when it suits her but is so stuck on the whole 9-5 thing! Arghh it drives me mad she'll sit in the office until bang on home time even though the vibe is you get your work done and be available and then scolds anyone who god forbid wants to log on at home or nip to Tesco. The world is changing and I think this is the future tbh.

Speaking of scrubbing steps, my kids love cleaning windows and especially when the weather is warmer it’s very fun (if ineffective!).
a riddle/clue based treasure hunt is always fun. Depending on their reading ability you can either hide a written or drawn clue they have to solve to locate the next one, and so on, until the final clue has a prize (chocolate coin or whatever)

Buy a pop up tent, along with torches and pillows

Make homemade play dough

Assault courses/parcours outside

Personally I'd make sure they're outdoors as much as possible, weather permitting

Nevermind that my company couldn't give a flying fuck what I'm doing as long as my work is completed to a high standard. Think it's just because we've been a 9-5 society for so long people are still coming around to the idea that you don't actually have to work yourself to death.

^

Couldn't agree more.

Large cardboard box

Cut a "door" in it and some windows

Put it in the middle of the room with glue sticks, kiddie scissors, loads of scrap paper and tissue, stickers and crayons (washable markers if you're brave).

Bonus points if you have a second, slightly smaller box so there's an escape tunnel.

This one is tried and tested.

As if you'd run this past your employer!!

What sort of moron would do that?!

OP, you're just a number to your employer so as long as the work's done, just let the kids play together...lego, crafting, baking, playing in garden etc.

This. Most work places it is explicitly not allowed, so you can't be surprised if you were to get in trouble for this. It's not fair to the kids either, what if you did have loads of work one day. Otherwise -you don't need to constantly plan activities. Let them play and entertain each other.

Baking cakes
Decorating gingermen
Egg hunt as you get near Easter
My personal favourite... spread little bits of paper in lines in 2 rooms, time how long it takes for one to Hoover all the paper in one room, then the other in the other room. They have a fun race.. you have a hoovered floor 😂
Make slime
Any baker Ross kit
Mini disco ball and some music
Fish and a fishing rod each (toys) spread the fish round the room, get them to collect into a bucket
Board games suitable for their age

@FloraMaguire my mum actually still goes on about how I used to beg to clean the windows and she’d have to clean them again afterwards 😂

@Goldbar wow this is truly amazing and I also have a ginormous box in the shed waiting for the tip so definitely doing this!

@Rosesanddaisies1 I bet you’re fun at parties… hope you didn’t send this during working hours! If I did have loads of work (which has never happened) on I would divert to my husband who also is working from home that day but self employed… I didn’t add that nugget of info because it’s not relevant and not what I asked for advice on. As it happens - I am able to be fully present for these kids due to my hard work earlier in the day, and occasionally would like to organise a fun activity for them, please by all means call Childline if you feel it necessary 😂

@HAF1119 sorry but that hoover one has killed me 😂😂😂

I once got my kids one of those colour in your own rocket ship from hobby craft. Kept them going for hours!