Keeping things interesting with a 2 year old

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

I have found the last week pretty difficult mentally. Over the last month DS (25 months) has dropped his naps, and therefore we have moved him into a single bed. That's going well! The problem is me not having a break during the day. He was a fab napper and often took 3 hour naps. What a dream!

I have written out this schedule and trying to stick with it - the main problem is the endless afternoons, DS likes to go off and play during quiet time, then do quiet time activities in the afternoon, back and forth, so it seems the screentime just goes on all afternoon. We both need structure!

7am breakfast and listen to some music

7:30 play

8am get dressed and do teeth

8:30 play

9am ready for morning : creche/playgroup/park/outing/play at home

11-1 or 12-2 depending on day: QUIET TIME - youtube kids, play with little zoo thing, puzzles, quiet activities, chill out time. Finish with some books. (This is where I need help, it's basically screen time that has a habit of dragging on if we don't have somewhere to be)

2-4 : play/playdate/activity (swim, soft play etc)/craft or pinterest thing/park

4:30 dinner

5-6 play/chill

6-7 bed

He is starting nursery in September, and getting a baby brother in November, so things will get a good shake up towards the end of the year. But for the next couple of months I need to keep things stimulating (for him and me ) and it just so happens that this stage coincides with summer holidays, where all the groups are off and everywhere will be so busy!

Thought I'd add what we've done today because it's not like we don't do anything - but I run out of ideas now I have 3 extra hours in the day.

Today we've:

Got up, played with cars and brio (with me playing with him)
Taken his bike to the park, balance bike, he can go a long way
Tried to get him to nap but he wasn't having it (he was v tired)
Came downstairs and had lunch
Watched some videos (30 mins)
Played outside with chalks
Played with sandpit
Read some books
Watched 2 episodes of Waybuloo and did the yoga along with them
More videos (science experiments and vehicles usually)
More playing
Dinner
Now probably more screen time truth be told, I'm so tired. Might see if he wants to do a puzzle.

I'm talking to myself here, but we also did a car wash - wash toy cars, thrilling. Now he's got out his reusable stickers so that's good. I've realised the problem is a few short spells of downtime throughout the day rather than one big chunk. OK bye

Sounds like you're doing loads I really wouldn't worry. I constantly beat myself up over whether I'm doing enough, but if he's getting some fresh air, some play one on one with you, some independent play, some craft time, some reading time it's all about balance. I'm in the camp of screen time is fine too x

My DS is nearly 25 months and also getting a baby sibling in October. I live for nap time so You are living my nightmare! He's not been napping great recently with teething etc, but I'm hoping he keeps it up for a while longer!

No advice as I'm in a similar boat with the afternoons dragging as nap is often 1 hour instead of previous 2.5 and he's grumpy too with tiredness.

Sounds like you're doing a great job though and nursery will really help from September. DS does 2 mornings a week so at least those days I don't feel so bad about screen time in the afternoon as he's done fun activities all morning!

Thanks for the reassurance. I think the thing is that each activity takes like 4 mins and then he wants to move on, so i run out of ideas quickly.

I do think he gets a lot from screen-time actually, he's learnt a lot from it and will abandon it when he gets bored so that's good.

He can kind of play by himself for a few mins but then it's all 'show mama', 'mummy come' etc. Aw. He's a sweetie. But sometimes mama wants to just sit in a cupboard

He is waaaaay overdue for nursery, can't wait! He'll be doing 2 full days!!!

oh yeah I remember these days. We lived in the centre of a city so I used to be able to lose a few hours walking to a museum or something and back.

Also don't forget that activities you 'need' to do like food shopping are just as stimulating if you have a child that can be pinned into a trolley. Or getting him to scrub the fronts of the kitchen cupboards; my kids still ask to do that for some reason!

My little girl stopped napping at 2 and I was not ready! She still went upstairs to her bedroom for 'quiet time', 45-60 mins to play with toys, look at books etc by herself. We had a baby Gate on her bedroom door tho so she couldn't escape!

You are probably overthinking this a bit. I wouldn't worry about scheduled 'quiet time' and structure. you will know if he's flagging and needs to calm down with some books/TV/stickers.

We tend to go with the flow in the afternoon. If he's full of energy we go with that if not we go with that. I also get chores and bits done so he will have to amuse himself or help during that time. It will work itself out once you both adjust.

Yes I probably am overthinking. I just hate letting him loll around all afternoon watching tv (I sound like my mum!) and he's usually tired so that's what tends to happen, oops!

I have a 2 and 3.5 year old, and a routine similar to you in terms of bedtime/wake up, morning and afternoon activities.

I do lunch at half 12, and 'quiet time' between 1 and 2. Quiet time is them spending an hour in their rooms - the youngest generally climbs into bed, read books and have a little nap but the eldest just potters about with her toys. No TV etc. They have an hour of quiet time and I get an hour to myself (to do housework 😩).

I don't do dinner until half 5, and CBeebies babysits from 5.

I honestly think they need to be left alone a bit to entertain themselves so I wouldn't stress over thinking up loads of stuff. Especially true if you've got a second due.

I do sometimes do a themed day - pirate day, dinosaur day etc. So it gives them ideas to carry through to the afternoon to entertain themselves. Small world play is very popular with mine at the moment too.