Entertaining a 1 year old during lockdown.

[ArrabellaAM]

I feel like I'm popping cbeebies on and letting DS play with his toys in the living room a bit too much.
Before the lockdown we went to numerous different baby groups/classes, we were always out & about - I have PND and it helped keep me sane.

We go for a walk most days and play outside when the weather is nice. I have tried online baby groups but he gets distracted by his toys and has never been one to sit still for long.
He has always been quite happy pottering about playing and exploring in the living room which I've possibly taken for granted and now I'm worrying I'm a bad mum

Annoyingly pnd seems to make me constantly think I'm not good enough so if anyone has any activities they can suggest or even just reassurance that cbeebies isnt the enemy that would be great

I’m in a similar boat, and trying to home school a 7 year old.
My 17 month old does watch tv every day. We also go for a walk or bike ride daily.
She likes to play with :
Play doh
A bucket of water and paint brush and then paints the patio with water
A bucket of soapy water and a sponge to wash her dolly
Chasing bubbles
Drawing On patio with chalk
Playing with corn flour and water mix
Putting screw top lids on different types on container (plastic bottle, jam jar, hand cream etc )
Trying to ‘get dressed’. If I give her a small pile of clothes she like to try and put them on

I’m part of a WhatsApp group where initially there was a lot of competitive ‘activity-planning’ going on. Plenty of homemade paints and fairy dust and what not that just ended up all over the kitchen floor, with a firmly disinterested toddler crawling/walking away.

CBeebies can be a lifesaver but I make a point of sitting with my one year old at least sometimes, pointing things out and verbally reinforcing what’s happening in the screen.

Let her open some of the kitchen cupboards and have a field day with pots/pans/sieves.

M&S are doing a little gardening set at the moment. Filling up the watering can and letting her water the grass/her shoes etc

Also I got a cereal box and poked finger size holes in one side. Then gave her some pasta and she spent ages poking it through the holes

Oh yes, DS lives watering her shoes with her little can 😁

I was a primary teacher & have a 4 year old and one year old at home. It sounds like you're doing a good job. CBeebies shows are educational. I've been doing their baby club with my LO & my older one loves joining in with her doll. We're in an unprecedented time & I think you just do your best to get you both through.
I had post natal anxiety going into lockdown, which I was getting treatment for & completed during the first few weeks. I've found lockdown hard on my mood (like a lot of people). To do something positive, I set up a play ideas page on social media. What I've discovered is a huge community of mainly mums, but other parents/carers too, sharing support & ideas.
I've in no way got the vibe of competitiveness, just lovely ladies trying to help each other. Which I admit, did surprise me as I know people can be competitive. It's really given me a positive focus & some great ideas that I've enjoyed trying. It sounds like you really care for your LO or you wouldn't have been so worried - that's the sign of a great mum already ☺️

Thanks everyone! I'll definitely give these a go!
I tried finger paints and that was an absolute fail, hes only just 1 so is more into trying to eat everything and it was a bit too close to nap time so I had a grumpy, messy baby to clean up and settle. Fun!
We played with cornflour the other day and he enjoyed it, will have to pick some more up today.
Definitely going to try the pasta and a box idea.

Thanks for the reassurance. I need to remember to be kinder to myself and say internally what I would say to others.

I joined one lockdown group on fb and it was full of brightly coloured home schooling schedules so I gave up on that one. Would you be able to pm me the group @Ladyrill5 - not sure if we are allowed to share links in threads or not.

Yoghurt with food colouring for painting worked well with my 1-year-old as I didn’t have to worry if he put it in his mouth. Salt dough (flour, salt and water) also was quite fun and you can keep whatever turns out nice and paint it. Tbh we ordered quite a few new toys off amazon and those have really helped (tent, tunnel, pram, cars, easel). So he won’t be getting many new presents in the future after lockdown!
If there is an online children’s entertainer your DS might be into that - mine has limited attention for online chat like yours, but likes one girl who plays guitar and sings nursery rhymes with actions.

Do you have a Tupperware cupboard, they live taking it out and trying to put back in.

Will try yogurt as paint & Tupperware today.
We bought quite a few new things which have definitely helped. Weve got a slide coming today and I'm gonna get the paddling pool out so that should keep us both entertained for a while.

Your toddler is only 1. They are happy, let them play and watch CBeebies.
My friend did flash cards with her daughter from 9 months, knew ABCs at 15 months and is reading at 3, just as well as my 5 year old! Better than her until I’d started teaching her really! That’s maybe something you could do. I can’t think of any other activities you might be ale to do for a toddler who’s only just 1!
However, play, CBeebies, paint, crayons are all learning to a toddler. As is various play, sensory balls etc, posting toys.

You are definitely doing a great job
Have you tried making a fort with sheets and the kitchen table? Mine used to love that. They would take all their Teddy’s under.

Try making home made popsicles with yoghurt and mashed up fruit. Eat outside. Keeps them busy!
Or banana ice cream. Freeze a couple of bananas. When solid blend them in the food processor until smooth. No need to add anything. Frozen mango works too.

This website is really good and all the activities are specifically designed for this age.

busytoddler.com/2018/02/activities-for-1-year-olds/

I've been learning baby signing with my 15-month-old which has been fun and has really helped with tantrums because she can communicate with us much more easily. There's a free course here: babysign.co.uk/online-classes/

Hi! I’ve PM’d you so hopefully you’ll get it ☺️