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A thread to help do more with the kids

208 replies

Tamadot · 19/05/2011 20:44

I thought it might be a good idea to have a thread of support for mums like me who tend to not do much with their kids at home.
I've heard quite a few mums on here say they're happy to take their kids out and about but find it difficult to spend time doing stuff with them at home.

Maybe we can make a commitment to do at least one activity a day with them, or get ideas about things to do?

I really want to try to do more with my lovely boys but I do find it hard. I don't want to ever look back and have regrets that I thought washing the dishes and doing the laundry meant that I put off doing anything with them.

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Carrotsandcelery · 22/05/2011 14:36

Ds climbed into bed with me this morning once dh had headed out on his run and we had a 45 minute session of tickling and playing with cuddly cats.

Normally soft toy pretend play bores me witless but because I was still blurry with sleep it went fine and we had a great laugh.

We rediscovered some of the little rhymes we sang when they were toddlers eg round and round the garden etc which started off the tickling.

Maybe an idea for those of you with younger dcs - a rhyme singing session - another free one!

SilveryMoon · 22/05/2011 15:19

Thanks Carrots That is a good one. I recently learnt a whole load of songs with hand actions from working in Early Years at an SEN school. I've tought my 2 ds's a few of them, but whenever I start singing, they yell "NO MUMMY" Blush

When dp gets home from work, the 3 of them play quite a cute fun game. I don't join in because I love that they have something that's just with their Dad.
Dp comes in, they run to him and they all have a little hug. Then dp will take his coat off and quickly hide, the boys then search the flat for him calling him. When they get close, he jumps out and roars at them, they laugh uncontrollably whilst dp hides again, the boys then look for him, and agin, he jumps out and roars, and so on, and so on. It can last for as long as dp wants to do it.
Sometimes, the boys take turns in hiding and making dp find them, or 1 of them will hide with dp.
When they're done, they all climb into my bed and pretend to be asleep, so I have to make a big thing of trying to wake them up, then they all sit up and roar and I have to pretend to be scared.

We went to a car-boot this morning and bought a game. It's a bash the monkeys with a hammer thing. The boys loved it, it is very loud though. There is only 2 hammers with it, so I didn't play for very long, left them to it in the end and got on with the ironing.

azazello · 22/05/2011 17:08

Lovely thread. I've been feeling guilty about not doing more, but it is difficult as DD is 4 and sluggish so loves nothing better than watching TV/ playing on CBeebies and DS is a very active 18 months.

I've been a bit inspired. Today DS and I painted a big piece of paper blue and DD glued some big lumps of glue sand from the sandpit to the bottom. When DS had his nap, I cut out some fishes nd they have both coloured some in. We'll do more and stick them on when I'm not working and then go to a fish shop next weekend.

Interested in this thread?

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Carrotsandcelery · 22/05/2011 19:53

Silvery that game sounds ace - I want to play too!

The fish tank sounds lovely too - ds would love that one so I will make a mental note to try it out one day we are around the house for a while.

trixymalixy · 22/05/2011 20:56

Geordie, I only got one bit. Although prob just as well as supposed to be on a diet.

I saw your wallpaper DS on FB, looked fab.

We were out for the day today at Loch Lomond so don't have anything to report. Trying to think of things now to do with the kids next weekend as DH is away and the weekend will drag if don't have anything planned.

We read to both kids every night too before bed, and I sing to them.

geordieminx · 22/05/2011 21:06

We were up there a few weeks back... They have loads of stuff for wee ones.

We went bowling, then for a walk around the estate to collect rubber bands.. HmmGrin

trixymalixy · 22/05/2011 21:11

Was a party for friend's DD, they had a bouncy castle and then went out in friend's boat, was fab but DH and I came back soaked!

Dosey · 22/05/2011 21:35

hi there, well we managed to get some of our old board games played today but we had some unexpected visitors but dds had fun anyway.After tea I sat with dd1 and did her homework, then I had a colouring in session with both dds, we love this. It relaxes both dds and me and we just chit chat while colouring, its fab.

OvO · 22/05/2011 23:32

Played Pick Up Sticks with my two today. Such a daft wee game but we had loads of fun. Had to let the littlest one cheat a little as he's only 3 but my 6 year old took it well and didn't complain. Grin. Really cheap to buy too.

SilveryMoon · 23/05/2011 07:53

OvO How do you play pick up sticks??

OvO · 23/05/2011 11:34

You hold the sticks in one hand, let them fall then you have to try to pick each stick up without making any other stick move. You keep going until you make one move then it moves onto the next persons turn. The sticks have different colours on the tips so you get different points for them but we don't bother with that (because I can't find the instructions lol) and just go with whoever has the most sticks wins.

Sound like a rubbish game but it's fun really. Grin

aStarInStrangeways · 23/05/2011 13:24

I was thinking: with all the great ideas on this thread, can we make a list of supplies for the ideal craft basket? There are so many things on here I hadn't thought to acquire, but which would be great to have at hand for when inspiration strikes - if I have a list, I can take it with me when in town/supermarket and stock up whenever there's a bit of spare money.

So I'll start with:

glue
paint
string
paper plates
tinfoil
wool (odds and ends for making woolly hair etc.)
glitter?

What would you add?

Busy day today, been swimming this morning and going to playgroup shortly. DS is really into maps and signs at the moment though so tomorrow I might try and make a big map with him, with lots of cut-out pictures to stick on. Then we could look at atlases in the library next time we go.

SilveryMoon · 23/05/2011 14:31

Erm, I think I'd add
Stickers (any kind)
Spatulas for glue
Paintbrushes/sponges etc
Crayons/pencils
Pipe cleaners
Coloured lolly sticks
pom-poms
googly eyes
buttons
beads
sequins

Then remember it's always handy to start collecting
yogurt pots (are useful to pour paint into and then throw away to make tidying easier)
loo roll tubes
plastic forks are good for mark making in paint
boxes/containers for junk modeling

The ELS center do craft starter kit must get one myself now that it's on offer. £6 bargain!!!!!

spiderlight · 23/05/2011 19:05

We have made a hovercraft out of an old CD and a balloon (a la Nina and the Neurons), which we are just about to try out in the bath, and I also set up a big treasure hunt with picture clues all round the house leading to a new toy car - he loved that!!

Carrotsandcelery · 23/05/2011 19:28

We played hide and seek with ds's spelling words for this week, then played snap (for ages!), Jenga, built a tent with the cranium fort which the dog even clambered into and then played dogs! Great fun!

Dosey · 23/05/2011 21:06

sounds like you lot had lots of fun today. I have been at work today but when I came home I managed to do some one on one reading time and got to have a little chat with both dds. DD1 told me she has been having bad dreams about witches. We came up with a plan, she will tell her worry dolls tonight about her bad dreams and if she still has them after tonight we will have to get the magic wands and fairy dust . I do struggle when I am at work to find time but we do reading and at tea time all four of us sit around the table for tea and chat away about our days. I do bathtime with them and have lots of cuddles before bed.

Mummyloveskisses · 23/05/2011 21:32

Hi
Today we have been playing with sand... passing sand from container to container discussing which holds the most/least.... treasure hunt (I buried some toy cars, small balls, pebbles, happyland men, new potatoes, a pencil and a spoon, DD (3.5) squealed with excitement after each 'find'.... and the usual sandcastle building destroying .... oh and tracing letters (practicing phonics) she loves the alphabet and anything to do with it has her interested.... I have also spent the last few nights reading a recommended website sunhatswellieboots and have filled several pages in my note book with ideas to do with DD and DS2 (DS1 is 13 and at school during the day)

Should I post these things I do on here or are we only to post original ideas?

SilveryMoon · 23/05/2011 21:33

We haven't done anything today Sad
The boys watched Toy Story ALL morning because I couldn't be arsed to do anything.
The in the afternoon we took ds1 to nursery and ds2 to the local pet shop to look at fish.

Mummyloveskisses · 23/05/2011 21:47

We all have mornings like that Silvery x Well I know I do :)

happybubblebrain · 23/05/2011 21:47

I think we used to do more and have slacked off a bit lately as we both do our own thing quite a bit. We don't really do many crafts or big projects like we used to.

But we still make cakes and simple dinners together, play board games and do puzzles, do acrobatics, read stories, draw, practise writing, keep a diary of dd's happy times and a memory box, play hide-and-seek. Plus tickles and hugs.

This thread is a virtual kick up the bum to me to do all the things we used to do and switch the TV off.

Carrotsandcelery · 23/05/2011 21:52

Time doing our own thing is important too Silvery. We all have days when we want our own space or to just chill out. That is healthy.

SilveryMoon · 23/05/2011 21:57

Thanks MLK I've just been feeling so drained lately. I haven't been sleeping well either.
You are right carrots but it results in me shouting a lot because they are bored.
Well, another day tomorrow.
Don't want to be doing too much now, half term next week, need to save some activities for then too

Skimty · 23/05/2011 22:07

Hi, can I join belatedly...

I have a 4 year old, a 2 year old and 7 month old. The 4 year old and the 2 year old play together really well and it has made me lazy.

So, we have no plans for tomorrow afternoon and I think we may try to find a theme? I've got some great ideas from here and off to decide.

Carrotsandcelery · 23/05/2011 22:16

I think there is enough here to keep you going all summer Silvery.

SilveryMoon · 23/05/2011 22:18

Yeah, probably, but please, leave me to my excuses Wink Grin
I did buy some cress seeds so we will def do that this week

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