what to do with older preschooler at home

[meysey]

Hi I have a DS1 of nearly 4, and a DS2 of 6 months. Because he is a Septemebr baby, there is a whole year to go before DS1 starts school. He does three full days a week at nursery (no more days available), and we are not going down the two hours a day for 5 days route, as I need a bit more time with the baby.

Am now getting very nervous at thought of entertaining older child and keeping baby happy. What do you guys do?

havent got a clue but thought i would bunp it for you

play with them!

I have the same , ds2 will be 5 the day he sstrts school

go swimming?
go to what ever groups he wants to do?
feed ducks?
go to the libabry
?
go on a train?

enjoy it!

I just do whatever the day leads me to do!

Some days we just hang out at home - TV/reading/playing imagination games/baking/playing with toys

Some days they come on outings I want to go on : - shopping, out for lunch, out to my friends houses etc

Some days we do things aimed at older child (4) - park, ballet, soft play etc

Generally I tend to plan things round preschooler and baby just gets entertained by being there and talking and playing with him IYSWIM

No she ties him tot he hoover and makes him hoover

Oh can I add in a recomendation for baby mozart - DS was sat infront of that a fair few times while I got on with housework or concentrated on DD a bit more.

I dont actually attach him to the hoover but I do have dusters attached to his knees so he can buff my floor on his crawling travels.

thanks for that... yes we can do those things, though may need more mobile duster type tips as can't fathom how to fit in housework too!

message withdrawn

good idea about helping with baby twiglett.

I had hoped to do playgroups etc but all the activities round here are on the days he is at nursery, and mondays and tuesdays are barren!

also his friends from nursery are mostly a bit older so won't be around during the day.

I've found that it changes as they grow a bit - I have opted for the 3 hours each day route as I feel that it is better for ds1 to have something each day rather than cramming it all in. My ds2 was on 2 naps a day at the 6 month stage but is now down to 1, so it will all change by Christmas say.

Mornings, ds1 is at playgroup and ds2 with me (or sometimes at gym creche for part of it!) This is our time for toddler group (ds1 is too big for it) and swimming (I still can't manage them both though ds1 is almost swimming without aids).

Playgroup pick-up is at 12 followed by lunch and nap for ds2. I then have 1 to 1 time with ds1 where I'll do the craft/pc games/board games that can't really happen when ds2 is trying to eat/grab everything in sight.

3-ish onwards is when I have both and we generally head out - to a friend's house, a park, soft play area, whatever to get them tired out for bed.

I do have to confess that at present I have them both at nursery for the day on Friday - my chance for housework/chores/shoping and anything else that can't be combined with 2 little ones. BUt it happens that ds2 has settled really well at nursery - I couldn't have done this with ds1 at the same age (he only started one full day at the age of 3).

I must say that I felt as you do now at a similar stage - when ds2 was napping int he mornings and afternoons, I never seemed to have much time for him - everything still worked arounf ds1. That changed at around 8/9 months when I could start going to activities aimed at him (and he could stay awake for long enough!)

Still not feeling brave enough to juggle a third child though...

ignore them when they are having paddies