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Multiple births

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Isolating with twin toddlers - help!

17 replies

Greenpiano · 28/12/2021 20:39

Our lovely b/g twins turn two in Jan and one of them tested positive for Covid two days ago. DH is working throughout so it's me and them stuck in the flat until at least Sunday and I'm already tearing my hair out!! Please share your ideas about how to occupy them Sad - they are going through an awful phase (at least I hope it's a phase) where they push and shove each other a lot and don't yet have any idea how to play together. Whatever one picks up, the other wants, even when we have two the same Hmm. We live in a two bed flat with a small balcony so can't really take them outside at all until we are out of isolation. Watching cartoons only lasts about ten minutes before they start squabbling. To make things even better DT2 is protesting her nap so I'm not getting a break except on the odd day she's too tired to fight. I'm happy to spend money on magic toys to make life easier for the next few days - please help with ideas!! Thank you for reading...

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StarsandStones · 28/12/2021 20:59

Hoping some other people have more/better ideas as our DD has just turned 3. But from memory:

  • Colouring with water, special books available and no mess (never tried ourselves, though often seen recommended).
  • Washi tape in bold colours, I precut them and put them at the edge of the table or a small box. Large piece of paper to decorate and done.
  • Big crayons or suchlike.
  • Playdough? Maybe homemade? If they don't tend to stick things in their mouths...
  • What worked for us when slightly younger was a Grapat Nins set, we had Autumn. Played with for weeks. Then put away, taken out again etc. I also cut a slot in a cardboard shoebox so she could fit the coins in, open the lid and take them out again.
  • Water play: washing plastic animals. Or just playing with cups. Can get messy.
  • Small bin with rice, spoons, cups etc. Also messy but fun!
  • Soft balls or balloons.
  • Lots of books...

I guess open ended toys and messy play, basically...
Flowers

MotherOfCrocodiles · 28/12/2021 21:06

Take the mattress off the bed and make a 'trampoline park' in the lounge

Similarly we brought garden toys into the lounge (big slide etc) but no use if you are in a flat

New bath toy, long baths

Sofa den

Dining table den

Hiding in the wardrobe

Make a car track on the floor with masking tape

iPad

God help you, 1-2 is a hard work age

MotherOfCrocodiles · 28/12/2021 21:07

Scooter in the lounge is another one

Greenpiano · 29/12/2021 05:15

Thank you so much for the suggestions :/

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StarsandStones · 29/12/2021 12:20

Other idea: check this link and see what type of toys fit for the schema they are in...

www.onehundredtoys.com/blogs/news/understanding-schema-play-in-toddlers?_pos=1&_sid=91795c14e&_ss=r

Also, Melissa and Doug have nice stamps, even for young kids.

Rrrob · 29/12/2021 12:26

No extra suggestions but some solidarity from another twin mum! Mine are 20 months. You WILL survive this! You managed the newborn twin phase :)

TulipsGarden · 29/12/2021 12:28

Hobbycraft do cardboard houses you can colour in - might help them occupied for a bit?

You have my sympathy!

Snoopsnoggysnog · 29/12/2021 12:31

Mine are 11 now and I can remember these days from when they had chicken pox age 2…

Baths when they get fractious, even in the middle of the day

Different toys in each room. Even if small flat. Change the scenery and get a different set of stuff out to distract them.

Have you got Duplo?

Those big crayons and markers you get from crayola for this age.

Pots and pans and plastic tubs in the kitchen.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 29/12/2021 12:32

Also could you find some kind of online music class and give them some little instruments to join in? Mine loved those toddler music classes.

UltimateFoole · 29/12/2021 12:33

Obstacle course in the house.

We use:

Big sofa cushions or pillows
A big cardboard box opened at both ends to crawl through
Pop-up tunnel thing
non-slip mat from the bath to run over in bare feet
Greasproof paper or tinfoil or something else textured to walk / jump on
A huge teddy at one end to dive onto
Children's table climb under or over

Masses of solidarity to you. I'm sure you are doing an amazing job.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 29/12/2021 12:34

Oh and take heart - I know it’s tough now but in a few months they really will start to play together and it’s so worth the wait. Mine basically ignored each other until that age Grin
Right now they’re downstairs playing switch together!

lackingchristmasspirit · 29/12/2021 12:41

Oh gosh, I really feel for you!

At that age my twins wouldn't focus on anything for very long which does make filling a whole day at home quite tricky.

Treasure baskets used to be a favourite. So fill a box/basket with random household items for them to explore (kitchen utensils, sponges, an old purse or wallet, a hair brush, a buttery less remote control.... anything really)

Good luck, as PP said if you've survived newborn twins then you've got this.

Greenpiano · 29/12/2021 13:04

Wow thank you some great ideas here. Off to build an obstacle course...

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Oatsamazing · 29/12/2021 13:12

I saw a suggestion somewhere earlier about hiding small toys in shredded paper, going to try it with my DD as we both get bored quite quickly Grin

UltimateFoole · 30/12/2021 12:01

Thinking of you.Hope it's going okay.

I remembered a few more things that have worked for us.

One is : playdough / oats/ 'clean' cereal / rice/ pasta + small toys/ cars/ plastic animals/ toy trains. The combo of a familiar toy with a new substance is a winner.

It gets messy though - so put down an old sheet or lots of newspaper so you can clear up easily. Use plastic boxes or a tea tray to contain the cereal or whatever and let them play on that.

(For the cereal - do NOT use Coco Pops or anything sticky! Rice Krispies or Cornflakes are good.)

Also - put a few drops of food colouring into water for water play. Or just into their bath water. You can add another colour later- eg. red and then add blue - it's fun to see the colour change.

Get out a box of sticking plasters and some bandages and let them play nurse to some dolls or teddies. Watch that CBeebies doctor programme first to get them in the mood.

Indoor snowball fight - using scrunched up paper or cotton wool balls. Watch a snowy Peter Rabbit - I'm sure there's a snowball fight one.

Also - mine love it if we clap and chant their name while they run across the room and jump onto the sofa then do a victory salute raising their arms. They would do this until I was hoarse if they could.

Come on! You can do this.

Taytotots · 30/12/2021 12:19

Oh no. Can't think of anything worse when my dt were that age.

As said above, lots of long baths with toys. The rice and trucks thing occupied mine for ages. You can buy a 'tuff spot' large plastic tray - basically a cement mixing pad I think which is great for containing mess. If you have a corridor , mine would spend ages moving down it in different ways (i.e I would tell them to hop like a frog, slither like a snake). Barefoot books have great music videos on YouTube.

Good luck!

Greenpiano · 30/12/2021 13:30

Thank you so much for all the ideas - they are really helping me get through. We've had great success with bouncing on a mattress and obstacle course, and dancing and jumping to music. Lots of the other suggestions have helped pass a few minutes! Will try all the latest ideas soon no doubt! Has been so helpful to come back to the thread to find something to do next - am really grateful.

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