What sort of things do you do that class as quality time with your dc iyo?

[OFSTEDoutstanding]

Hi I am new to this part of MN and you can usually find me lurking in the childminder threads, however ds is 2 next week and I was wondering what do you do with your dc. I know I probably sound really dim but as I have other peoples children with ds for 50 hours a week when I get a day off I sort of let him choose what we do whether that is going out or watching tv (don't shoot me!)
Was just wondering what sort of things you do that you count as quality time as he really enjoys just spending time with me so if I can give him 100% attention even for a couple of hours I feel we have had quality time regardless of what we do. Would love to hear your opinions and sorry for rambling!

we play children's board games, and read books, or play outside together

I don't think it matters what you do as long as you give 100% attention. I tend to let dc's choose too sometimes they want to stay home and play, other times go out.

Games. Trips out to the beach or park. Cooking. Painting. I sometimes think the thought is worse than the actual event. When I force myself to do these things (because let's face it they don't always come naturally) I'm often really glad I did.

On Wednesdays we go swimming, go for lunch in the cafe and then go to toddler group. It's the one day when she gets my undivided attention for 5 or 6 hours. I'm going to miss it when she starts school next week.

Thanks for your ideas the problem is I already do all those with him when I have the mindees during the week that is why I sort of let him decide on my days off as I feel he gets bored with it being so full on in the week. Love the idea of swimming being a weekly event maybe I could do that as there is no way I could do it during the week with 3 under 2!

What does your ds like to do?

Mine is 2.5. At the moment he likes it if we do puzzles, build duplo, build road and train layouts, play football. He also likes to help me sort the washing and clean the bathroom.

Mealtimes are great for quality time providing all the family sit at the table.

I think just chilling together would be what he needs, after the activity and routine filled week.

I agree annie my ds does love just sitting with me on the couch and watching tv or having a cudddle and a story, I just don't like to think that people think I am not giving him any effort on weekends when am so busy all week. A MIL comment last week along the lines of no wonder all you want to do is put him in front of the tv when you work all week has left me quite upset and paranoid!

Although to answer the thread title with my 3yo this weekend that I suppose you could class as QT I have helped her make a collage picture for her Grandma including helping her practice the letters of her name and kisses, baked a cake, cuddled lots, read, helped her practice riding her bike (2 sessions), swept the patio together (she likes this, honest), picked strawberries from the garden. So she has done OK really.

I have done rather less for DS who is 6, but DH has done more.

We have also done other things like DD's dancing, DS been to a party, out for lunch with PILs today etc.

DD2 has just turned two. Her idea of heavenly quality time would probably involve a trip to the park without her big sister, back home to cook something containing chocolate and/or golden syrup, followed by endless reading of books.

She has also just learned to say "Laura watch Charlie and Lola", but I blame her big sister for that and I don't think it counts as QT LOL!

We blow soap bubbles together. Mostly I blow, he chases, and is delighted each time he pops one. He also blows some, but the chase is much more fun. His happy little face beams up at me as I blow the bubbles, then he laughs in delight when he pops them. Truly a nice thing to do together.

Reading, painting, "writing" (ds3 1/2), cooking, baking, making playdough, "wobbly bridge" (ds1 sits on kness and I move them about so he has to balance and do a bit of bucking bronco style too), hide and seek, magazines (especially spot the difference at the moment), swimming (every now and then), out on his bike (he gets to choose the direction), we also go to a coffee/book shop and he has half a chocolate cake and an hour of me reading whatever he fancies to him

I prefer to do normal things and let DS2 help - cooking, laundry, shopping etc. We sem to get on better that way

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