6 weeks to entertain a one year old....tips!

[snowchick1977]

So, my childminder breaks up for the summer this week. I work full time, and I must admit to struggling when I have my daughter for a full day (i know this is bad)

I have accrued 6 weeks leave from work so I'm after tips and hints to entertain my one year old over the summer.

I have no family close and all of my friends have children who are a lot older.

What do you do with your one year olds? Any recommendations for days out etc? I am based in the Midlands and, as you can tell, I'm pretty clueless.

Thanks in advance

X

Find some playgroups in your area.

Try meeting some other mums - always easier to entertain LOs when there's more of you there IMO. You could see if there's a mumsnet meet near you - although the one near me is without DCs. I'd definitely recommend Netmums - not for chat, but for their meet-a-mum board. It's just like dating - you reply to ads from mums you think you might get on with, ideally with Dcs roughly the same age, or post your own ad if you want to. Then meet fro coffe and cake somewhere child-friendly and see if you get on. DS and I have made a couple of good friends this way.

Netmums meet a mum boards

Other than that, time to find our what's child-friendly in your local area (the park, child friendly cafes, paddling pools etc.)

tbh i can't remember now what we did to entertain DS at home, it seems so long ago!

But if you're at home, it could also be a chance to catch up with any friends and family if any of them are also around in the day - well those who would be delighted to entertain your DD of course!

Check out if any toddler groups run through the holidays. Also some classes may do Summer sessions.

The park, feeding ducks and the playground. Softplay area if the weather is bad. Do you have any animal attraction near you? Zoo? Farm?

Can you entertain a 1 year old as I have never managed??? I wouldnt spend money on expensive days old. Go to the park, swimming, long walks.

Like many of us self employed the young children are happy with paying around the house, in the garden and just knowing your around is enough.

Agree that you could use meet a mum - Netmums is usually very good too.

Pack a bag of essentials and sandwiches and snacks and go to the park for the day.

Take a ball too so you can play on the grass and sit and have your food.

Collect things like leaves, sticks, blackberries, ladybirds etc.

Do you have any walks near you around a lake or reservoir or dam or anything?

It used to take ds1 3 hours ish to walk around a dam near us. Used to let him plod at his own pace. Collect things, sit at a picnic table and have some food, feed the ducks etc. he was doing that from about 18 months.

Save your money for rainy days and then do hand and footprints or a sticky colourful collage. Or go to soft play type places. Definitely another vote for playgroups too.

Also, look at what is happening at the library.

My 14 month old loves pottering in the garden, especially if he has a bucket to collect pebbles, snails and leaves in.

Water is always a success - washing up bowl on the grass, old paint brush, and just get everything wet. Or feeding ducks (and eating most of the bread yourself), if you have a river / lake nearby with amenable wildlife! Swimming is a good way of wearing them out.

I'd agree with not bothering with too many expensive days out, unless its somewhere you want to go. Yes to looking a different things, but that is as easy at the local park, or some woods as the £££ zoo.

Books, balls, knocking down towers of stacking cups (and then "helping" to rebuild them), cooking biscuits if you can face the mess, chase, peek a boo all successful here.

Relax, enjoy and go with the flow!

If your child is only just one, then I wouldn't bother with 'days out' as they will not appreciate it, but if they are 18m then the park and stuff will be enjoyed.

Mine always enjoy walks through country parks, even if sat in the buggy.

Bowl of water in the garden.

Sandpit - even an old washing up bowl filled with sand is enough.

Bubbles, kids bloody love bubbles!

Swimming

The library is always good

If I think of some more I'll come back. In my experience, most playgroups aren't on over the summer holidays (which is annoying when you are trying to entertain little ones!)

You don't need days out to entertain a 1yo. Getting out of the house is a good idea, but simple things (as others have suggested) or something that you yourself enjoy will be fine.

Bear in mind your DC's routine (if they have one) and use it to your advantage- so chill out while they sleep.

Oh, and if you spend your days trying to entertain a 1year old you will be knackered!

Give them the pot of pegs to play with while you hang washing out, or a saucepan and wooden spoon to bang about while you cook, a feather duster to wave around while you are watching telly cleaning :o

It is not all about the child, just bumble along as you see fit with a couple of ideas up your sleeve for when you need it :)