Half term ideas for House of Pox

[Dannie]

I need suggestions. DD, who's 5, is recovering from chickenpox, DS1 (7) and DS2 (almost 2) are unwell, but no spots yet. DH is helpfully going to South Africa for the week. Everyone has spent a lot of time at home lately and the novelty has worn off. My ideas so far are: making Christmas cake and pudding, exploring less populated areas like the beach at low tide and the top of the park, and calling round DD's friends so she at least has a playmate, but I'd be very grateful for all your wet day last resort activities. Stuff like a giant Junior Monopoly tournament or complicated craft is not really feasible with DS2 around and the usual defaults like swimming and soft play are out if we're spotty. Going to my Mum's involves a three-hour car journey and their house isn't toddler-proof so that's not ideal either. Suggestions? Please?

Bump from someone completely braindead on this one.

Thanks sweetie. Early nights will feature prominently. Also bedroom tidying.
But since DS2 refuses to sleep in his cot, he doesn't have much of a relationship with his bedroom.

Wow. Not even Mumsnet can help on this one. I am truly entering uncharted parenting territory.

how about you buy a cheap plastic sheet (tesco do decorators ones in packs of 3 for about £2) and get some old bed sheets out, find the paints and let them paint themselves, the sheets, whatever, its great fun for all ages!!!

fairy cakes are always good, let the little on watch and lick the spoon, and put stuff on top (like silver ball things) and it dont matter too much if it all goes in the mouth!

er...........how about sorting the socks, offer a reward for the one who matches most (the little one will prob just enjoy eating them!!)

quickest bedroom tidy (after a long day playing) again for a prize (could even just be a special story or 15mins later bedtime!) while they do that you and little one can do some puzzles!

oh yeah puzzles are always good, maybe grab a cheap foam floor puzzle and get the big ones to show you where the bits go and let little one push them in!

walks to the park (try at lunch time there arent many people there)

walks through the woods (if you have any) naming animals and trees, collecting conkers (if there are any left), collecting leaves to make collages of

etc etc etc!!!

What about 'shakermaker', you know those moulds with concrete (or something ) in them that you shake, leave them to go hard for half an hour then go back and paint.

Would be a bit messy, but would surely use up a whole morning/afternoon..?

That all sounds good, thanks! I was also thinking of putting stabilisers back onto DS1's bike and doing bike/trike races. Probably more fun for me & DS2, but tough luck!