What do you do all day with your toddler?

[HappyGoGoLucky]

I feel like I cannot be productive enough during the day! I only work part time - I look after my 2 year old all day during the days I'm off.

However I honestly cannot think of anything I can do to be busy / make the day go quick! I love being busy and just doing things but I am really so, so bored. Especially as the weather is wet, cold and windy so I can't even take him to the park.

So far I've done housework which has taken an hour, preparing lunches and dinner for tonight/tomorrow will take me less than an hour. I've played with my son, we did play dough, colouring, hide and seek, cuddles..

He asked if he can watch TV, so I've turned that on. It's not even 12 o'clock :(

Can you tell me about your day in the life with a toddler please?! I am desperate for something to look forward to. I am planning on doing weekly swimming sessions with him. He already goes play group when he goes to the childminders.

I'm so fed up of being bored

Always out the house in the mornings playgroup, swimming, gymnastics or soft play. Then errands or playing, crafts, water play in the house.

agree with pp of getting out the house everyday. we are up and out every weekday morning to something. and we like to get outside in most weather. windy is the only one we avoid. but get a puddle suit and jump in puddles or collect leaves and stones and potter. we aim to be back for lunch and nap then we just potter/play till tea time. if it's nice we'll go back outside again. if you're looking for activities to do at home there's some good people on Instagram. 5 minute mum is the one I follow.

I do the school run with the eldest and am done by 9am. Then we pop out to the shops/meet a friend/run and errand. Come back for an early lunch around 11:30 then he sleeps 12-2:30/3. Then school run again. A bit of telly and playing, then dinner and start evening routine.

We usually go out in the morning; to the park, library, shops, farm, tramp through the fields (even in terrible weather!). Then we get back for about 11.30 for lunch and a nap. In the afternoon we'll play in the garden (collecting stones, leaves etc) or play inside with vehicles, jigsaws, dolls' house, a bit of painting, read lots of books, I chase him through the house pretending to be a monster . If it's nice outside we might go for a little walk to the local shop or just down the road to get some fresh air just to wear him out for bedtime. Then we have dinner and then a bath and more stories until bedtime.

Always outside at some point. Even if it’s a walk to the shops. He’d go bananas if we didn’t.
Look for local playgroups there are usually heaps around for minimal money and free biscuits
Otherwise there’s a heck of a lot of baking going on in our house. Gingerbread men, cupcakes, decorating biscuits etc etc. Stop raining soon please weather

We also do something every morning, playgroup, softplay, playdate at friends house or our house, park if its nice. The only time we stay in just us is if someone is ill.

General routine here is:

School run
Morning activity
Lunch
Books
Sleep
Afternoon school run
Park (in almost all weathers) or if it's pouring with rain/snowing/absolutely freezing then Cbeebies and playtime at home.
Dinner
Playtime
Bath
Bed

I find this sort of routine essential tbh, hours of empty time do my head in!

I have 2 under 2 so routine is key for me. My toddler gets frustrated if we stay in all day so I made a timetable!
This is my toddler's (he is 2 in May).

7.30-9.30am- breakfast, washed, dressed and screen time whilst I sort house and pack bag.
9.30-10.00am- shoes on, nappy changes, coat and out.
10.00- 11.30am out. Anywhere! We go to toddler group, park, coffee shop if raining and no group, play date, walk, shopping. I don't drive so am limited.
11.30-12.15am- Lunch
12.15-2pm - nap
2-3pm activity
3-4.30- free play
4.30-5.00 cook dinner- toddler helps in fun pod
5.00-5.30-dinner
5.30-6.00 bath
6.00-7.00 screen time and tidy
7.00-7.30- book and cuddle and bed.

Activities in afternoon vary- use Instagram and Pinterest. Last week we did: baking, junk modelling, painting, salt dough, made a bird feeder, sensory box..today we are making bath bombs.

Hope that helps.

Baking (we make things like crispy cakes though mainly do no actual baking involved)
Painting
Drawing
Play dough
At least one walk a day
Dancing to music
Reading stories
Naps/quiet time
Meals can be quite dragged out
Playing with duplo/ megablocks
Playing with bubbles

The secret is having different boxes of stuff to rotate and pull out so stuff doesn't get boring.

I'm also a big fan of an afternoon bath (for the DC), they don't have to be only for bedtime. Fill with bubbles and different toys to keep it fresh (tea set, Duplo, dinosaur, animals, dolls or teddies who need a bath etc). I find they play happily and independently in the bath. Obviously you need to sit with them, but make yourself comfy with a magazine and cuppa! The ultimate low-energy afternoon!

Out every morning, back for lunch and then nap. Then play at home in afternoon. TV on from 4:30 when I sort dinner.

Places we usually go;
Parent and toddler groups
Library
Park
Soft play
Tumble tots
Music groups
Play dates with friends

I struggle with this too! Here’s some of the things we do:

Watching ducks/bees/squirrels/cats in the park
Cafe with kids play area, I get a coffee, he gets a milk and plays
Watering plants in our garden
Hide and seek inside
‘Sleep’ (I pretend to sleep, he shouts ‘wake up mummy’ after a few seconds - love this as I get to lie down)
Playing catch with a ball
Playing with cars, zooming them to each other
Megablocks
Stacking tower games
Get books in the library
Play dough
Play with pretend food, he makes me toast and drinks