Really struggling with 3 kids !

[Keepgoing88]

My kids are 6, just 4 and 13 months. I'm just really struggling to entertain them all in this climate e.g. not going to play groups etc. I try so hard with painting, crafts, baking, reading etc but the one year old is very clingy. I've already put the Tv on as the 4 year old has just been trashing the place. The only time I get any peace is when I put the TV on, I'm.just feeling like a bit of a crap mum right now. Is it ok for them to watch more tv right now. I'm slowly going nuts!!

Oh it’s so hard! Do what you need to do to get through the next few minutes, hours, day....

My 2.8 yr old is trashing the house too. Constantly wanting snacks and just generally winding up the baby 😫😫😫😫

Of course its OK and I'm astounded you've not put the tv on before this tbh, they dont have to be entertained by you every second of the day. These are unusual times and it's only temporary. Be kind to yourself and if they need to relax in front of the telly for a while just left them. My dd has spent much longer than I'd ever normally allow playing online games but it's not forever and its not going to harm them.

*let them

Thanks, I was thinking people would come on here and be like oh do this with them and that! I do try so I'm happy at that. I just hold on each day until DH has finished work and then get few mins to myself! How did people survive before kids tv?!! X

@Kmx123 seriously -

@Kmx123 It takes a village ... but that village is in lockdown

@kmx123 no need for that is there. OP only has 3 kids not 30 and it's perfectly understandable that these circumstances present a challenge particularly the ages they are.

OP, when planning the size of your family, it was really very irresponsible of you to not consider how you'd cope in a pandemic lockdown!

I feel you - I've got a 2.5 year old and 5 month old twins. The toddler is watching TV a lot at the moment!

Thanks everyone . @Kmx123 what did you actually say? I never saw it... too busy looking after the kids!

No idea why KMX12 felt the need to be nasty.

I have four children, and it isn’t easy being at home all the time. Have you got a garden? Mine have been out looking for bugs today on a bug hunt. Fresh air and a bit of sunshine does us all good if you can.

Don’t feel bad about the tv-we just got Disney+ and I’m pretty sure loads of kids are watching that right now anyway!

Thanks @snowflakes1122 I don't even know what she said. It's easy to be mean when your anonymous, I don't really care. Thank God we do have a garden. Have been out in it today- probably I missed that ladies lovely post ;(

As pp's have said, it's unusual times so relaxing rules about the TV is fine.

You can't possibly entertain them non stop and we could be in this situation for quite some time.

You just need to find a pattern that works for you in these circumstances and if that's means more TV or time spent playing on the iPad then so be it.

Just as a suggestion, lots of youtubers are providing child entertainment, for example David Williams is reading one of his books and releasing a video of each chapter.

Some teachers are uploading online classes etc.

So if you want to feel less guilty (though I don't think you have a reason to do so) it might be worth searching on you tube.

There's definitely loads of online fun lessons suitable for your 6 year old and content for your 4 year old (like the DW one).

Good luck!

Here's how to access the David Walliams content.

Sorry it's audio books rather than video as I said above.

Keepgoing88-you didn’t miss anything worth wasting your time reading from that post anyway!

Remember to look after yourself too in all this, it’s hard so don’t put pressure on yourself in these difficult times

God whack the telly on for a bit! I think that's fine! I'd also say pour yourself a glass of your favourite tipple while they watch - not sure I should be on mn!

I had young DC back in the early 90s and in those days there wasn’t an emphasis on limiting screen time like there is now. I guess as we didn’t have so many screens! But DS did have a sega megadrive and both my DC had shows they liked on TV. If they wanted to watch tv or play video games I just let them do it. I didn’t count how many hours they’d spent on it. They have both grown into fully functioning adults. So whatever you need to do to get through this just do it, and don’t feel a minutes guilt about it. There is so much pressure on parents now, even before this virus hit us. A few weeks of a few extra hours of TV will honestly make no difference at all.

Hang in there. Sounds like you are putting too much pressure on yourself. Hopefully you will relax into some kind of routine. Definitely yes to tv. There are plenty of educational videos on YouTube.

Have picnics in the garden when it's warmer so no clearing up, loooong baths while you clean the rest of the bathroom or do the ironing in The hallway outside. A playpen for the toddler might help as well.

Take care

Do the older ones play together? Could you encourage that? Maybe try some easy card or board games. Like candy land or hungry hippos. My older two would play together a lot (20 months apart) at that age and they still do. And don’t worry about putting the tv. I do the same to get some peace. I try to limit tv during day. I allow them 30 minutes of an education YouTube video like Dr bionic...just before lunch to have peace while making lunch. Then no screens until 5pm. Then I allow it 5-7pm to have peace while I make dinner, give the baby a bath and put her to bed.