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Rainy day activities with 18 month old

31 replies

Spudlet · 09/08/2017 18:27

It has been horrendous here today, lamping it down to the point that our entire backyard is flooded. We have wellies and waterproofs but there are limits to what they can deal with!

Normally on a day like this I'd drive to the local woods where at ,east we'd be a bit sheltered, but unfortunately those woods are currently the scene of an entirely horrific crime, so are sealed off while the police investigate. And even when they're not, it's going to be a while before I feel confident to take ds there by myself.

So. I need some ideas for indoor things to do with ds - preferably not horrendously messy as we only have a small space to work in (although I have done moon sand and bubbles and such in the past). Trouble is, ds has a short attention span (of course he does, he's tiny) so I need lots of ideas. We've done home disco, books, building towers, the shapes sorter, cars, hoovering (he likes it!), sofa cushions on the floor for home softplay... I'm running out of ideas for tomorrow though. There are a few indoor attractions around but that means leaving ddog all alone when dh is at the office and I prefer not to do that too often. I resorted to Hey Duggee today which is fine, but not every day!

Here's hoping for less rain tomorrow so we can go puddle jumping without drowning!

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2014newme · 09/08/2017 18:28

Swimming
Library
Museum
It doesn't involve leaving day

Spudlet · 09/08/2017 18:32

It doesn't, but I still need some way to amuse him when we get back. He gets up to mischief if left to his own devices for too long in the house!

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Spudlet · 09/08/2017 18:33

And also I should have said (apologies for an inadvertent drip feed), we live quite rurally and I do try to limit how much we drive, for budgetary and environmental reasons. I don't mind driving sometimes but I do really need at home activities.

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2014newme · 09/08/2017 18:34

Invite a friend over

Latenightreader · 09/08/2017 18:38

Do you have any large cardboard boxes in the loft or shed? Pop small person inside with crayons/paints/pens and let them make as much mess as they'd like (take clothes off if necessary).

Spudlet · 09/08/2017 18:43

Oh genius, toddler in a box Grin I bet I could find one if I don't have one around! Thank you Smile

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zebrapig · 09/08/2017 18:43

Does he enjoy bathtime? Do water play in the bath with things you wouldn't normally, e.g. a sieve, colander, saucepan. You could also use shaving foam to do some sensory play.

drspouse · 09/08/2017 18:45

Or poster paint in the bath. Shredded paper if you feel strong.

Summerdays2014 · 09/08/2017 19:25

My son is 19 months old today. I too struggle with indoor activities when it's raining. We had a bath in the middle on the day today which was great fun for half an hour. My son has no attention span either... it's tough to entertain him inside!
By the way... what's moon sand?

Spudlet · 09/08/2017 20:00

I think we need to invest in some paints and things...

Moon sand is basically flour and oil mixed up. It squishes up so you can mound it but then crumbles up again. It makes a dreadful mess - we both needed a change of clothes afterwards last time - but it is fun! The recipe I found uses flour and vegetable oil because then it doesn't matter if it gets eaten Grin

I didn't have any colouring so I just used flour and sunflower oil!

parentingchaos.com/taste-safe-moon-sand-recipe/

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Spudlet · 09/08/2017 20:01

Thank you for all the ideas everyone, I feel so useless on days when we're stuck inside!

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Summerdays2014 · 09/08/2017 20:08

Moon sand sounds great, thanks for the link. My son isn't that interested in paint, playdoh etc yet. He will do it for 5 minutes or so then wonder off onto the next thing! I have however found sticker books work well to entertain him for at least 20 minutes. I bought some of the usborn first sticker books which have big stickers!

Spudlet · 09/08/2017 20:12

We haven't tried stickers, I just thought he'd be too young. I'll have to see if I can find some, thanks!

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tissuesosoft · 09/08/2017 20:14

Second the cardboard box! And have you tried home baking? DD (coming up 18 months) and I have made muffins, flapjacks, savoury scones, cheese straws etc. She sits and thumps dough as her task

photographyaddict · 09/08/2017 20:16

Don't want to interrupt your thread but are you in Norfolk op? Just from the woods scene you described. Also some ideas: Big sheet of paper and some pens/crayons/paint, bath paints, build a den Smile

tissuesosoft · 09/08/2017 20:17

Start of our cardboard house- slowly covering it in white paper and DD colours it in.

Some recipe sites I use- www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/curations/easy-cooking-with-kids-recipes, www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/i-can-cook

Rainy day activities with 18 month old
tissuesosoft · 09/08/2017 20:18

Forgot to add the pic!

Rainy day activities with 18 month old
Summerdays2014 · 09/08/2017 20:20

With the stickers I hold up the sheet, he points to the one he wants, I peel it off and then he takes great pleasure in patting them down!

Spudlet · 09/08/2017 20:21

I am in Norfolk, yes. The poor man lived in another local village. I've walked, ridden and run in those woods for years, alone, with ddog and now with ds too, and never felt anything but safe. It's scary, and so sad for his poor family Sad

I also haven't tried baking, but we probably should give it a go! And I love the box house too!

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Brown76 · 09/08/2017 20:32

Make your own play dough and if you have a mr potato head toy you can stick the eyes, hands etc into your dough. Can also roll out and use cutters or kitchen items to mark and cut out shapes i.e. Fork, egg cup etc.

Singing: we have a singing DVD that is a bit like going to a baby group, so although it's screen time it's very interactive and we sing along for half an hour.

Wrap up toys with child in newspaper or old gift wrap, let them have a go with sellotaping and decorating the presents with stickers, then they can give you the 'gift' or pretend it's their birthday and let them rip it open to see what's inside.

Flanderspigeonmurderer · 09/08/2017 20:32

Do you have a step he can stand on at the sink. My son used to like doing the washing up. I just gave him some Tupperware, filled the sink halfway and put some washing up liquid in. Maybe best to put some old towels on the floor.

Penhacked · 09/08/2017 20:42

My ds loved cars, so with him, I would run the car through paint for him and he would make 'art'. Car wash, toy car garage, cardboard car slope...etc...etc
Dd had no interest in cars. It is all about her dolly. She pushed it in pram, we wash dolly clothes, play doctor with dolly, give dolly drinks, bounce dolly and make her sleep, dolly watches her do her felt own drawings, etc.
She also likes playing 'find the card' with three cards turned over from DS memory game. Much praise when she finds correct card etc.
Midday bath is common here too, it always kills half an hour and she usually needs it!
Musical instruments to bang and shake along to nursery rhymes.
But the days are still long inside!!

Silverthorn · 09/08/2017 20:46

Make a postbox out of a cardboard box and let him write some letters to post.
Small ballpit.
Duplo
Car mat and cars
Wooden train set.
Sensory basket with feathers, fabrics, etc
Empty tissue box with fabric hankerchiefs to pull out and push in.

Spudlet · 09/08/2017 20:52

Thank you, there are so many good ideas here. Hoping we can avoid a repeat of the Hey Duggee Marathon of Stumped Motherly Shame now Grin

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ZZZZ1111 · 09/08/2017 21:01

Posting things into an empty kitchen roll tube so that they fall through; posting things through the holes in a colander e.g. dry spaghetti.