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Original poster

What do you do with a toddler when it's raining?

35 replies

CountessDracula · 23/11/2003 09:07

My dd 15 months is at a bit of a snivelly age - if I take her out to playgroup or to the swings/slides she rushes around and is then quite happy to chill at home/play etc.

Yesterday she got very fed up as it was pouring with rain and we didn't really do anything. I wondered what you all do - are there any indoor play areas in SW London? Or do you go to museums? Would a 15 month old be interested in a museum? We thought of going to the natural history museum but she might find it boring, she doesn't really like being in her buggy at the moment.

Any suggestions gratefully received!

OP posts:
misdee · 23/11/2003 09:13

yesterday i took dd2 (also 15months) to a bad taste bear signing in p'boro lol. she was very well behaved and loved the xmas lights in the shops. she got out of the buggy a few times and we walked about, but she queued quite happily for 2hours.
she loved looking at all the different figurines in the shops, chatted to people etc. but then she also likes play areas. your dd might like a museum, something that will catch her eye, maybe even a gallery. and yup its still raining.

forestfly · 23/11/2003 09:16

My kids love the natural history museum, it's full of bugs and dinosaurs. I also take them to the play ball pub. Anything that involves food is always successful, but when its really bad we watch a movie and have an indoor picnic

Jimjams · 23/11/2003 09:24

well I put on waterproofs and go out. AFter lunch today we're going to head to the moors and it looks as if it will be raining. In fact I prefer parks in the rain as they are always empty.

forestfly · 23/11/2003 09:27

Your very good, jimjams!

Jimjams · 23/11/2003 09:32

I just like the rain forestfly!

Jimjams · 23/11/2003 09:33

also I can't take ds1 to parks if they're busy so rain is a bonus.

misdee · 23/11/2003 09:33

do u sing in it?

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/11/2003 09:34

I really need something where I don't have to rush around too (eg indoor play place) as I have glandular fever and dh has to work this pm. Normally I would just go out in the rain with dd and the dog and go to the playground.

OP posts:
forestfly · 23/11/2003 10:00

Library, visit someone, its sunday, perhaps a church? Or bake cakes? I'm realising how boring i am. You could do what i'm doing and get consumed in so much anger that you kick walls. Not really the best way to spend a day

bossykate · 23/11/2003 10:07

cd, syon park is the place for you! soft play area, butterfly house, aquarium etc. plus the stately home if your dd is patient with those. if you want to come in to town, i recommend the tate modern - you can let the wild things run free in the turbine hall! or the london transport museum has a small soft play area and also lots of trains and tracks laid out on play tables. tate britain has a small children's crafty room (15m maybe a bit young for this) but you can also let her let off steam by letting her go in the main atrium - not too many exhibits there. i've also heard the royal festival hall is a good place to take youngsters in the bad weather, very open plan with space to run about, small concerts going on etc.

bossykate · 23/11/2003 10:09

or the london aquarium - ds loved it at around the same age.

Jimjams · 23/11/2003 10:14

not sure about london aquarium- especially if you're not well yourself- the day we went it was horrendously busy and a total nightmare (still shodder to think about that day). It would have been good if it wasn't so crowded. Maybe bad weather will make it a busy? The only good bit about that day was a trip to Yo sushi- there's a big one behind the aquarium. Ds1 loved it.

bossykate · 23/11/2003 10:14

or swimming if you could bear it

suzywong · 23/11/2003 10:26

CD
I know it's not SW Londn but try the British Musem. I took DS and his mate hter when they were about 15 months. There are lots of roomy staircases leading to the upper floors that don't get much traffic as most people use the lifts which the kids tramped up and down. Also there is the gorgeous enclosed courtyard to run around in. And lots of statues of animals like lions etc to spot. It really worked out on a wet day for toddlers who don't go easily into pushchairs.

forestfly · 23/11/2003 10:53

London sounds fantastic for kids, i must spend a weekend there

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/11/2003 13:39

Thanks all! We have already been to the Tate Modern and the Aquarium. DH sent me back to bed this am and took dd to Syon House BK (didn't you get married there too?) and they went to the play place, Buttrfly house and then to see all the fish at the tropical fish shop. They had a wonderful time. She is now sparko as she ran around so much!

May just take her shopping this pm

OP posts:
bossykate · 23/11/2003 13:45

oh yes, cd, i did! forgot you got married there, of course you will know all about it. any nice baby friendly cafes near you with toys? hope you are feeling better soon.

Lorien · 23/11/2003 13:59

Well, I'm just back from a trip to IKEA with my two. I live in Malaysia and its the rainy season, with lots of lightning, so anything outdoors in the afternoon is just OUT at the moment. IKEA was surprisingly good (I was, I admit, a little desperate as dh is away for an extended period and I just couldn't face dinner and bedtime tonight.) Anyway, we had kiddy meals, trooped around with those little kids trolleys, played with all the childrens toys to the point of exhaustion and then the kids fell asleep in the car on the way home, so I just gave them a quick change and popped em into bed.
Still, I've never been to an IKEA in Britain so I don't know if there would be similar levels of fun....

EmmaTMG · 23/11/2003 14:06

Ikea on a rainy sunday in Croydon would be my idea of torture. It's packed on a normal day so weekends are out of the question.
Certainly not enough to do in the kiddies section for my little gang.

My eldest 2 are watching Thunderbirds at the moment.......after watching Thomas. BAD MUM, BAD MUM, BAD MUM. Baby asleep now thanks to the quietness the videos have brought!!!

tamum · 23/11/2003 14:25

The basement of the Science Museum would be great for a 15 month old, I think, if you haven't been there. Lots of sensory type things, like a glorified soft play area but much more interesting. Don't know if it gets unbearably crowded at weekends though.
Hope you get better soon, CD!

Zerub · 23/11/2003 15:28

Splashsuit and wellies for puddlejumping, followed by shared hot bath (mostly to warm me up!). Buts that no good if you're not well. Maybe skip the puddles and go straight to the bath? (purely for play or course, no washing allowed).

Indoor toddler activity places are good - there's one near us where you throw the toddler in the ball pit (literally, she likes that!) and then sit down for a coffee on the other side of the child-proof fence. Lovely. Or you can replicate this at home by piling all the sofa cushions and a couple of duvets in the middle of the floor and letting her bounce/burrow while you sit on whats left of the sofa with your coffee...

I chase her round the house till she's exhausted and then get the playdoh/paints out (dd is 18 months and getting into that now).

Going round a friend's house usually works - playing with someone elses toys. Works for me too .

The local stray cats shelter is a favourite too.

Angeliz · 23/11/2003 15:35

museum is always a hit with my dd 2.6 and the library too! Or as someone else suggested having fun at home, my dd had an operation on her foot not so long ago and i got EVERY cuddly toy and big quilt and we made a gungle (jungle) in the living room which lasted for about 3 days My dd still loves it if i let her make cakes and wash up too, or jelly.....

Angeliz · 23/11/2003 15:37

Emma tmg, my dd has watched t.v ALOT today too She has been invited on various outings but wants a lazy day (she's playing in her room now with daddy............bliss

Original poster
CountessDracula · 24/11/2003 00:45

Zerub love the idea of the pile of duvets etc in living room, will try it next rainy day!

OP posts:
expatkat · 24/11/2003 01:45

Agree with Tamum's suggestion about the basement "garden" (what the under 5's area is called) in the Science Museum. Ds loved it at 15 months, particularly the water play area. I don't recommend it for weekends, though--weekdays only (much less busy). It was a godsend when I was recovering from glandular fever (as I think you are) because I didn't have to do that much by way of assisting him. There's nowhere to sit, but if you ask the people who work there, they will give you a folding chair which they keep in the back for exhausted or pregnant mums.

Angeliz's library suggesion is also good; most have an under 5's story hour kind of thing. Also ask your HV about drop-in centre's in your areaplaces where your child can play with any number of activities, free. There are loads around London. But bear in mind that indoor children's activities can be germ factoriesand you might do well to avoid them until you're fully recovered.