Ideas please

[JBCG]

Apologies if this question has already been asked, I tried looking for a thread but couldn't really find any age relevant.

DS is 10 months old and I am struggling to find ways to keep him entertained during lockdown that don't involve the TV! Both DP and I are trying to work as much as possible but have come up with a split shift approach where I have DS all morning one week and all afternoon the next (and DP the opposite).

I just feel DS is spending all his time either in his walker or crawling around on the floor. He does play well with his toys by himself for half an hour or so and we try and actively play with him during the day too as much as possible but I'm running out of ideas to keep him entertained. We go on a walk each day during our allocated exercise time and try to spend some time out in the garden when the weather is nice but I just feel like it's so monotonous for him.. with the same toys, same lounge, same everything. He's used to being at nursery so he's used to endless activities and friends!

If anyone has any suggestions, I would be so grateful! I just feel like I'm letting him down and not giving him all the new experiences he should be getting. I'm not a typical 'fun mum' (it doesn't really come naturally to me) and don't have the best imagination on what we could do. Truthfully I'm just a bit clueless at this and don't know what's age appropriate for him. I'm feeling a bit out of my depth with lockdown and I just want to do the best for him - but don't really know where to start.

Do you have a tupperware cupboard you can let him loose on? They love taking everything out. Rarely put it back though.

Are you singing songs with actions?

Saucepans and wooden spoon drums?

Blow bubbles using washing up liquid and any ladle or something that has a hole in it.

Set up an assault course.

Give a sheet or blanket and make a den or cave with toys in.

Give a torch. Huge fun. There won't be any battery left.

Baby signing videos really hold their attention.

Mark making - roll out play dough, give him a plastic spoon or something to make marks in the play dough.

Singing nursery rhymes
Peek a boo by hiding behind a blanket or cushion
Tickling
Bubbles
Books
Roll a ball back and forth
Water play in the garden - just a basin of water and some toys to wash is fun

My DD used to live getting everything out of a cupboard. So as per pp I had a rockery and Tupperware cupboard that she oils fiddle about with for an hour or two with almost no interaction from me as long as I was present.,my DSes were very different at that age as one had to be attached to me in some way and the other used to crawl off and cause trouble. It so depends on their personality .

I also remember that mine preferred playing with real things rather than toys.
Things like cardboard boxes, Tupperware, saucepans and wooden spoons and socks strangely enough!
Could’ve saved a lot of money!

Thank you all very much! We'll give these a go over the next few days ☺️

DS is also 10 months. Also struggling!

Will agree with PP about emptying the cupboard. I’ve rearranged the kitchen so that one cupboard his height is full of Tupperware. He also likes playing with pots and pans.

We have a bath every day atm, it kills an hour and it’s good for him to have a splash about.

I’ve hidden toys in jelly for him a couple of times and that went down well.

Do you have many books? DS loves “reading” his books.

He loves to play with balls.

Happy to recommend some toys that keep mine occupied for the most time if you’re at the point of wanting to buy some different ones.

I might need to make my Tupperware cupboard more accessible for him! Or just empty it out myself and he can rearrange it all on the floor.

Yes we have lots of books and he loves throwing them (rather than sitting and reading with me!).

I think we'll save the outside water play for when the weather cheers up a bit but I like the torch and saucepan ideas a lot.

He is very happy to play independently (obviously with us just watching) but I just feel like he's missing out on so much interaction that he'd usually be getting at this age. Poor thing must be so bored of just me and DP!

I might need to get some new toys, we don't have play dough or anything like that. He does have lots of balls, rattles, toy cars etc but nothing messy!

I worry the same about interaction. I’m still on mat leave so he hasn’t been at nursery but it still can’t be great only seeing his parents. They’re definitely missing out but hopefully no long term effects 🤞🏻

I second water play. Also putting blobs of paint on a piece of cardboard or canvas with cling film over it so they can squish it without getting dirty. Toys in jelly sounds like heaps of fun.

Very easy to make your own playdough, its just flour salt food colouring and cream of tartar.

I follow a woman called zaziplays on Instagram, she has heaps of ideas.

The cupboard emptying is the most fun part, so don't empty it for him. If you can, swap your cupboards around so there is one that is at floor height and doesn't have a child lock.

Can't remember what age is the pack rat stage, but toddlers love to collect items in bags and carry them around.

You can make play do - if you can get enough flour. Salt dough is dangerous if he eats it so keep a close eye. Chalk on the terrace/pavement might be fun too. Nursery used to mix bubbles with paint and glue I think, and squish into a plastic bag, put some random flat objects in there, then seal the bag. He might be old enough to do some closely supervised mark making with a thick wax crayon. Sellotape the paper to the table to stop it slipping.

Here are a few more. hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk/#6

Books
Singing
Different rooms
Playing with fruit and vegetables
Peek a boo
Cloud dough
Jelly