How much time do you spend just pottering around the house with your dc?

[tory79]

Ds is 14 months, and even though we have an activity to go to most days (playgroup, swimming, rhythm time...) and weather permitting we do get out of the house every day I somehow always feel guilty whenever we are just at home and not really doing anything. We are normally out in the mornings, come home, have lunch, ds has his nap and by the time that's done it's 3ish and we usually don't go out again as I'm starting to think about dinner!

When we are at home we play with his toys/read books or he plays while I do housework etc. sometimes it feels like other people are doing way more stuff with their dc than I do.....are you???

That sounds perfect. It's great for you dc to be at home, playing at their own pace, feeling safe and secure. It sounds like you have a good mixture of activities and free time.

My ds is nearly 3 and goes to preschool every morning. Once lunch and nap is out of the way, it's nice to just kick back and relax. In fact the one day that we have something on (music class) is a rush to get out on time, get in, get supper on etc.

DS often asks to just play at home. He's happy here.

We've never been to a single group or 'activity'. DD is now 3.7 and going to nursery school, DS is 23m. There's plenty to do around the house. Pottering is great.

I work fulltime - at the weekends, i feel that precious time is wasted if I'm NOT just pottering around the house with DD! Charging around the dining room table shrieking and giggling has become a favourite activity for both of us! (She is 2.) :)

I adore the simple fun we can have at home.

I think at 1 there is nothing better than pottering about the house with Mammy.

We used to get up and go to feed the ducks and the Surestart Centre every morning and then home after lunch for a nap and spend the rest of the day at home. Pottering is good :)

I don't do it enough any more. When my older dc's were this age we used to do toddler group, lunch, sleep, potter, dinner etc but now we're not at home enough because of the school run and the kids are missing it!

At half term we spent 2 whole days indoors doing nothing in particular and the kids really needed it to unwind - they were much better behaved on those days than when we were rushing around doing tons of kids activities for them.

That sounds like the perfect routine!!! By spending some time at home you are giving the opportunity for your ds to develop his imagination through play!!!

That sounds perfect. Pottering is SO good for children. Don't give in to the peer pressure (I speak as one who is currently fighting not to be influenced by the whirlwind of activities that all the other Reception children seem to be doing).

What the bloody hell is 'rhythm time'? I'm scratching my head here!

Sounds normal and nice to me. Two activities a day makes it go quickly, but one is plenty I think.

Thanks everyone, I feel a bit better now! We do sometimes go out in the afternoon too, he loves the swings - but it gets harder to that especially with it getting darker so much earlier.

vamosbebe Rhythm Time is a music session, ds loves it!

When I look back over the last few years, yes I like the memories of going out with the dc but if I'm honest, the weekends when we all just pottered round the house are my favourite.