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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Original poster

allotment and 18mo ...

17 replies

BlueChampagne · 15/02/2009 21:31

DH and I are looking for ideas for entertaining 18mo DS while we get some work done on the allotment. We try to time trips for nap time, but it doesn't always work, and are aware that naps will fade away. When he's a bit bigger we'd love to get him involved but not sure what we can expect at the moment and over the next few months. What's worked for you guys?

OP posts:
MERLYPUSS · 15/02/2009 22:49

I have 1yr old DTs. I am hoping that in the summer we can empty out a grow bag in a raised bed and let them dig and push their cars through it. Either that or lock them in the fruit cage whilst we get on with it. LOL Have you thought about getting a paddling pool that you can fill with balls or soemthing for him. Some sites let you have swings etc.

TrulyMadBadandDeeply · 15/02/2009 22:51

How about a sand pit? If you build your own, in a few years' time you can convert it into a raised bed, to give your DS an 'allotment' of his own.

redclover79 · 15/02/2009 23:25

I parked ds2 (1 yr old) in front of a row of peas last summer! We also take a couple of old digger toys and leave them with an empty patch to play on. I'm liking truly's idea, just need to find space!

TrulyMadBadandDeeply · 15/02/2009 23:29

'Tis a great idea - my friend's! Wish I could take the credit.

funtimewincies · 17/02/2009 13:44

DH gives ds (now 2, but started around 18months) rides in the wheelbarrow. He's also a champion stone collector. Give him an old flowerpot and he's away !

MrsBadger · 17/02/2009 14:02

oh yes, stone collecting is a big hit with dd (also 18m)

Original poster
BlueChampagne · 18/02/2009 13:04

How closely to you supervise stone collecting? Definitely going to keep an eye out on freecycle for sandpit stuff in due course.

OP posts:
funtimewincies · 19/02/2009 09:49

Although he still occasionally puts stuff in his mouth, ds never tried it with stones. Mind you, the allotment is my project so DH mostly keeps and eye on ds while I dig/weed and then I take over when he takes the loads to the communal compost heap.

So far I've only taken ds by myself when I've needed to pick stuff, but I'm hoping that this year (he'll be 2.5 by the summer) he'll be able to join in more.

thehairybabysmum · 19/02/2009 10:48

I have some buckets and spades and a tonka dumper truck that ds1 plays with. He jsut digs a big hole!

Also get him to actually help you where possible...ie putting seeds into trenches and covering them over...this will get better as he gets bigger. DS1 now 3 is great downthe lotty now. DS2 17 mths likes to eat dig soil too. He's not walking yet and is a bum shuffler so has been harder to get down in the cold/wet but hoping he might walk soonish!

We also do divide and conquer so one of us craxcks on with proper work/diiging/whatever needs doing whilst the other one is in charge of kids.

Food also a good distraction!

funtimewincies · 19/02/2009 11:11

Oh yes, and a waterproof all-in-one suit will be the best value purchase you will ever make (I got mine for £12). It doesn't matter what ds is wearing, bung on the 'red suit' and his wellies and he's good to go and perfectly clean underneath, no matter how much he slithers around in the mud !

Original poster
BlueChampagne · 23/02/2009 12:46

Yesterday he was awake for 2 hours so DH and I took it in turns to supervise/dig. However DS helped plant a row of broad beans and grubbed around with his baby fork and trowel. Waterproof all-in-one definitely a must-have.

OP posts:
pamplemousse · 23/02/2009 13:00

Ooh liking the stones idea, although when we went yesterday dd was fascinated by worms and kept wanting to pick them up, it reminded me of my childhood collecting worms in jars!
I find a picnic in a lunchbox is good, and we also have one of those pop up sun tents which dd loves to use as a wendy house and have her picnic in. Am looking on freecycle for a child sized wheelbarrow as loading things up and moving them around is a popular game for her. She also LOVES to water, although she does tend to water one thing, a lot!

funtimewincies · 23/02/2009 20:18

If you don't have any joy with freecycle, this might be worth a punt. I'm getting one for ds at the weekend .

pamplemousse · 23/02/2009 20:24

Ooh thats fab, I've had no replies so might just get that little set, thanks so much funtimewincies!

funtimewincies · 24/02/2009 09:27

You're welcome and hope that the little one has a great time . Went down the lotty on Saturday, the sun was out and everybody was meeting up for the first time since the late autumn, it was really nice.

thehairybabysmum · 24/02/2009 09:52

yes an all in one is essential...i got one from army and navy for £14.

DS1 helped me plant the garlic on sunday.

Grandad made him a wheelbarrrow...tis fab, covered in bob and scoop stickers too !

funtimewincies · 24/02/2009 10:33

Now that's what I call a proper wheelbarrow !

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