Ideas please to distract my toddler while I whip this hell hole into shape

[alittleteapot]

My dp has been away and i've been ill. Hence the house is a true two and eight - several days washing up, toys everywhere, you know - mayhem.

I'm feeling better today and dp is on his way home so i'm trying to reinstate a little bit of order (I'm not bothering with laundry, just piling it in bags and will go to lauderette tomorrow.)

Anyway, dd - 18 mo -is in a clingy and mischievous mood and not altogether helping. it sometimes helps giving her little jobs - so far today she's stood at the washing up bowl squeezing the sponge and rinsing wooden spoons for minutes on end. Then I gave her a bowl of raisins to transfer into a jar with a very narrow neck that worked for a while till she threw the whole lot on the floor. Then she tipped her milk on to the floor (she's got into doing this cos she likes wiping up - grr)

And now she's just wanting carrying or lap. what would you do?

What would you do.

oh and i really don't want to resort to telly because that's how i've got through the last few days of being ill she's already showing cold turkey...

Give her baby wipes and tell her to polish the surfaces.
Crayons and paper to scribble something in whatever room you're in?
Is there something she's not often allowed, which would get her atttention for a bit? I always find play dough helps!
And finally...dare I say it....CBeebies!?

x post,sorry! No CBeebies then!

let her help

give her something to wash

Can you muffle her up well and take her for a walk? The fresh air would do you both the world of good and she might nap later on.
Just try tackling a small thing at a time if you feel up to it.

Paint brush and water and tell her to 'paint' the walls.

In the bath with some toys (no water)

Let her loose on the laundry basket.

It's a very full on age eh?

Great ideas, thank you. Yes moondog, certainly is!

You just triggered an idea and i've given her a feather duster - she's busy dusting as i type!

Cutty - don't want to go out as have chest infection and it's TOO COLD!

i really wish i'd got her a toy broom for xmas. she loves them and would be great right now.

next stop, the container bit of the paper shredder. she's having a lot of fun with all the shreddings and has placated pleas for telly , for now anyway.

oh bugger what a stupid idea, now there are paper shreddings everywhere and she's already bored and has just emptied my purse all over the floor too.

anyway i'm not getting anything done sitting on mumsnet so will go and rejoin the struggle...

am coming up with some quite good ones now so thought i'd share...

empty ice into jug plus wooden spoon and cup then after a while get her to put the cubes back into the ice tray (bought me about seven minutes)

Ironing spray thing - only about 2 mins but it all adds up

Stamping on packets in the recycling box - ongoing.