What do you do on dark evenings?

[crazychemist]

How do you entertain DC on winter evenings?

My DD is 2, and I'm already finding winter very dull. We used to always go to the playground before dinner and she had a good run around, but now she doesn't want to stay long as it's dark and cold (she has a lovely snug snow suit, but doesn't like to wear gloves when clambering about so gets cold hands).

She will happily sit and look at books with me all evening, but to be honest I'm getting bored with this! I also think it doesn't give her much variety or exercise, but she just doesn't want to be outside much.

Any suggestions for what to do to get some variety for my sake? She's not much interested in puzzles etc yet. She'll do a bit of mark making occasionally, but not for more than two minutes and not every day.

I went through this last winter with my son who was 2 also so know how you feel. I found lots of variety key as at that age his attention span for each activity was quite short. I mainly did activites with him that were just as quick to tidy up as he was to get bored of them.

How about an easel? Colouring and chalks for it? Building blocks were a hit for my son too.

I also found a long bathtime helped at this age, with lots of different bath toys.

Forgot to add baking cakes and putting music on and having a silly dance together to physically tire him too.

Visit friends and return the favour. I used to go out during the daylight hours to wear them out (often swimming) and then I didn’t mind having a quieter afternoon. Visit the library? Just a change of scene is good.

Cheers guys, thanks for the ideas!

We went to the library and did some baking yesterday. I'd love to take her swimming, but I don't have a car and the buses here are extremely unreliable (they are every hour, but if they are running late, they just skip some parts of their route, including my bit!).

I'll try to make sure we get out lots while it is light.

Would going to the park, or walk with a torch make a difference?

Christmas lights walks in December.

Play in the garden or a walk in your street with a torch or lantern. At 2 years that easily passes a good 30-45 mins

Garden chalking, again with torch

Early long bubble bath, put some music on, lots of toys and bubbles. Can get in with her if you like

Indoor sandpit. Get a tray with sides. a large roasting dish or similar. add a few inches of rice, coucous, bean. then add small toys, spons and cups to decant. put tray on large towel in kitchen. Isnt too messy as can be swept up afterwards. and can just lift and put tray up high when not in use so can use the same one for weeks.

Indoor water play. same concept as sandpit. can use old baby bath or tray. add warm water and bubbles. put on towel. add old calpol syringes, sieves, cups etc. assume child will get wet so plan to do before actual bath or pjamas on.

baking. biscuits or gingerbread are good as they can play with it at table with cutters like playdough first for a while. then bakes quickly (10mins)

indoor dens. let them have bedding or towels and pegs over table, chairs etc. pillows everywhere

masking tape on floor to make roads to play cars etc on

drawing, stickers

Try and take them outside earlier in the day when it is light, so they are happier to stay in after 4pm

Ds loves silly cooking at that age. I’d give him a saucepan, a jug of water and things like dried pasta and rice (bought bags of basics for him to use) plus I’d put food colouring in the water for him, and a wooden spoon.

Play doh, painting, small trampoline (the ones with handles) indoors

Also bit of messy play before Bath time? If your not too keen on the mess, I found that two laminating pouches with a bit of paint in between them, is excellent for Mark making for younger children, you can seal the edges unsing hair straighteners, works a treat. Sensory bottles are good for toddlers, you could make them together one evening, doesn't have to be too messy depending on what you use, pasta, rice, glitter and water is good too, autumn leaves.
Play dough in the tubs, you could sit and do at the table together one evening, can easily be cleaned up.
Singing too?