Social distancing with a small child - what are your plans?

[LajesticVantrashell]

DS currently in nursery (how long for, not sure) and I'm getting prepared to WFH. If we have to self isolate then fine, but like everyone, I'm a bit lost on how to social distance with a small child who needs to get out on a daily basis.

There will obviously be no soft play or swimming, but maybe parks at non peak time and some carefully timed walks for exercise, but what are your plans on how to get through this with your sanity in tact?

We are now on day 5 of self isolation with 2 preschoolers. Not going to lie - it's had its moments

We’re going to do a lot of walks to visit he horses and tractors I think. Luckily we live quite rurally so it’ll be easy to go out without coming into contact with people. We might do some treasure hunt/collecting walks where we take a plastic bag and collect sticks or leaves or whatever.

... so that’s about 30 minutes of the next 12 weeks planned 😩

The thing is though, I don’t think there will be non peak times...as everyone will want to go then, making them the peak times. We have a small garden so will be making the most of that and the huge play field at the end of the road, taking things that will interest her that she doesn’t want to share to encourage social distancing!

We’ll probably also potty train.

The imagination tree website is great for activity ideas, the weather is improving as we hit spring so the garden will be a realistic option again and Disney plus is about to launch (weighing up whether to sign up before the weekend for the intro offer). I’m not looking forward to it, but I am resigned and trying to prepare as much as possible.

I have a 15 month old and will need to isolate as I'm pregnant. If I have to isolate for while of pregnancy or this goes on for 18 months or so, are you worried it will affect the young ones development? Mine so wants to explore the world and he loves his childcare and that will all be taken away from him and he'll just have me

I'm planning on using the time to potty train, and taking him to a field to run about once or twice a day (he's a bit like a Labrador - needs a good run about).

I think the play park would be too difficult (but may very well be empty). I think I read somewhere that one of the European countries closed their playparks.

Yesterday was day one. We are avoiding everything even parks as kids touch the equipment there.

Our routine yesterday was:

• Wake up way too early and I watch some TV whilst toddler plays with toys. Eat breakfast.
• have a long bath
• get ready (use extra time to teach toddler to dress himself)
• snack
• play outside (playhouse in garden, in cul de sac with bike and ball)
• lunch
• nap
• toddler watches some TV and has a snack whilst I prepare dinner
• focused activity (we did colour and shape matching)
• dinner
• play with dad
• bed

I suspect this will be our daily routine! In between these things he was playing with puzzles etc just choosing his own toys to play with.

@6000choccybiccies I'm worried about his ability to socialise! At the moment he loves making friends at soft play etc. I'm sure it will be a shock when we first go back. Other development I'm not too worried as there's lots of activities you can do at home!

I have a 4yo and a 2yo. I am absolutely dreading it. Dd1 loves her nursery and her friends and it's going to be really rubbish for her. She's thrived there and really learnt so much, I feel bad that it'll be gone but hey, it's 10 weeks out of a long year. Kind of like summer holidays so, I'll think of it like that. We have to self isolate quite soon as I'm immune compromised and very unstable.
DD2 had just started to settle into nursery, a few hours a week. She loved it too as she was getting bored at home with me. But she's so little that she's been bringing home a bug every week so that's not been ideal.
I love them to bits and have parked my part time msc degree I was doing for the moment, but I am really terrified of spending 10 weeks alone with them! Partly I guess I've always worked part time so I've never done it, like other sahm have during summer holidays etc.
But onwards. Internet has some good ideas. Will make use of it....any ideas here and support here for days when they are being terrors will be great!

I worry a little about our two year olds development too, she absolutely loves playgroup and socialising, but of course I understand we must do it.

I'm going to potty train, dog walk (unless in isolation) and try a routine schedule (five minute mum has some ideas)

One of her activities is doing an online session which is nice.

A few years, I was stuck at home with lively but covered in chicken pox DC. As one of them got it just as the other was recovering, we were at home for 10 days. It seemed like forever but things which helped were:

• throwing a ball and getting them to fetch it
• setting up obstacle courses involving bean bags, balancing things on spoons, bunny hops, jumping jacks
• turning the sofas into a (very) mini soft play
• bubbles. Toddlers never seem to tire of running after bubbles

Unfortunately, once you've turned the sofas into soft play equipment and they've got used to scrambling all over it, they'll never stop but it does give them something else to do.