Whole unexpected day tomorrow with toddler DD. What can I do to improve her mood?

[belindarose]

I'm having a tough time with 2.7 yo DD at the moment. She has raging melt downs at the slightest provocation, which is obviously totally normal, but I'm pregnant and probably less patient than usual and am finding it/ her exhausting.

Anyway, we've got all day tomorrow to ourselves. Nobody to see, nothing that has to be done (except a walk with the dog). Any suggestions of how to make this a 'successful' day? Grandparents are coming the day after and we'll all be busy for a week. I want to do something lovely and bonding, but should probably lower my expectations as it's likely to be as difficult a day as they've all been recently.

She is mostly lovely, it's just me that's the problem.

Has she been to the cinema yet? Easy for you, memorable for her and you can get popcorn and snuggle up. It's the Easter hols so there must be sometihng suitable on.

my best "bonding" times with the kids have been when I've lowered my expectations and just taken stuff as it comes! so when the kids say "but we don't want to go home from the park and have lunch" I just say "cool, we'll stay a bit longer then"... they're happy, i'm happy (well sometimes bored, but happier than when they're having tantrums )

what's the weather going to be like where you are?
maybe you could go out to the park or the beach? take a picnic?
or stay in and just do stuff you don't normally do? painting/play doh, things like that?

Wow, I really don't think she'd cope with that! Do others of her age manage the Cinema? I'm impressed. Thanks for the suggestion. I'd have to be feeling extremely brave (and sit on the end of an aisle). She'd air her views constantly, and loudly, throughout. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Thisisyesterday - thanks. We do a lot of those things, but maybe I could just really follow her agenda all day. I'm sure she thinks
I'm always doing chores, washing up, MNetting.

Well, DD1 is 3 and a month and her first trip was a while ago... but maybe not that long ago - I can't remember! Don't take her if it'll stress you out, but do remember that small children airing their views constantly loudly is pretty much a characteristic feature of going to a kids' film at the cinema!

DS loves the cinema, first trip at just turned 3. I was sceptical but he was fab, and sat on my lap angelically (not a word I use lightly!). But not a 3d showing, he finds the glasses a bit much.

I'd possibly go to a playbarn type place if weather rubbish, park if good.

DS managed about half of Cars 2 brilliantly at that age. Then he didn't

If you're prepared to leave when it becomes unenjoyable then why not?

Are there any good children's attractions / days out where you are?

I read and reread your thread title op

surely having a day with your dd, a whole day as you say isn;t such a big deal?

or do you rely on others to give you a distraction from her?

odd

It's certainly an idea I hadn't thought of. Weather forecast wet here and I don't want to go anywhere 'holidayish' (we're in Devon).

Ssd - cross post, missed yours. No, I phrased it badly. I spend almost every day with her! But tomorrow's plans have been cancelled as friend's DD has chicken pox. So I have an unexpected day to do something nice with her alone.

But thanks for making me feel like crap.

well its you who said a WHOLE day with dd, made it sound like the end of the world, like something awful

just do what you normally do, whats the big deal?

I remember being pregnant with DD2 and finding DD1 v hard work - a day with no plans would've seemed like a state of emergency, frankly.

Do you mean to sound so unpleasant, ssd?

Thanks for ideas everyone.

depends where you live, and depends what the weather is like. Maybe go swimming?

not trying to sound unpleasant, why are you so defensive?

enjoy your whole day with your dd tomorrow, thank god gp's are coming the next day to take her off your hands

If you've got people coming at the weekend why not bake some Easter biscuits? Sainbury's etc have some good cutters and moulds at the minute and if you make the dough she can help you roll it and then do the shapes.
A couple of bowls with icing in one and sprinkles in the other to decorate them and she'll have a whale of a time and be proud of what she's made too.

My dd loves spending the day in her PJs! We cuddle up read books etc.

Op I understand exactly what you mean - whole day with no plans.

I took her to the cinema on her 3rd birthday. Let's just say we're not going again for a while.

Thanks, the oven is broken so we made biscuits at a friend's today! It was very well received.

Did I come across really badly in the OP? I'm a mostly SAHP, spending almost every waking hour with my funny and lovely DD, but finding her tantrums a little more difficult than usual - probably because I'm pregnant and tired. I would like an extra lovely day tomorrow to reconnect before we have visitors for a week. Thanks for the nice ideas. I'm going to hide this thread now as I'm stupidly upset.

Hi belindarose. Is swimming doable or are you too knackered with the pg? Because that's something that may be a little harder to do logistically once DC2 gets here. Have very happy memory of taking DD1 swimming the week before DD2 turned up. Seriously impressed with posters whose children sit through films at that age; DD1 (aged 7 now) still hasn't gone to the cinema. Enjoy your day.

Bloody hell ssd. You are being nasty. The op asked for ideas for a day out.

Do some easter glueing/sticking/painting etc. Hard boil some eggs and paint them ready for sunday. Go to the pound store and raid their easter section and make a easter bonnet. Buy some ready make plain fairy cakes and buy the decorations etc and decorate them, ready for visitors coming. Buy her a new DVD and let her watch it.

No, you didn't come across badly at all. You came across as someone trying to find an especially nice idea for the day.

My DS2 is a bit older than your DD but he loves cooking and baking. I think the making biscuits or cakes would be good fun.

Make some chocolate nests using chocolate, rice crispies and mini eggs. We made some yesterday and they really enjoyed it.

Do one ssd the OP didn't mean Whole day in a bad way

OP, I get it too.

If I really can't find anything else to do with DS I take him to a nice cafe for a "coffee" (babycino if they do one, hot chocolate if they don't!) and share a piece of cake. We have little chats about nursery friends and family, with no distractions. Lovely (as long as he's in the right mood, of course!).