entertaining a two year old during this time

[Greenhats10]

wonder if anyone has any tips on how to entertain a lively two and half year old. had an ok for of routine pre-covid but feel like it's a bit of a groundhog day with covid. DS does go to the nursery three days a week but I feel like the other four days a week are sort of on repeat. we do go the playground, GP, seeing his friends but there are no clubs, no swimming and no baby groups. We've only been in the city for a year so whilst I have a couple of friends -with covid many have left the city as they now WFH.

Has everyone returned to their usual routine? And what is it normally like?

The things you are doing are fine. Don't fall into the trap of feeling that you have to "entertain" him all the time. He should be able to play independently for quite a long time while you do other things. Give him some dried rice or lentils, spoons different sizes, small bowl, funnel etc on a tray. Suggest he drives a small car through it, loads up a truck etc.

honestly, when he's with me he never plays by himself at all, so I feel like I have to entertain him from the moment he wakes up till he goes to bed.when DH is around he just tells him to go away....

Our wooden train set has saved the day. It’s the one toy he’s happy to play with independently for a reasonable period of time.

@FizzingWhizzbee123 thanks for the tip, was thinking of getting him some new toys to play with so might put that on the list

We have been feeling like we were quite busy since we have been able to go back to the local playground! Our days consist of visiting grandparents, going to the park, going for walks, going for a ride on our bikes, going to the supermarket, playing with toys in different rooms of the house, doing housework (DS likes dusting and vacuuming). My DS is only 19 months.

Im dreading winter as I don't know how on earth I will keep him entertained when its is raining a lot. He likes being out in the rain so perhaps we will just put wellies and splash suit on and go for our long walks and have a go on the swings in the park.

At that age mine liked walk in woods and feeding Teddy play food

We try to go outside regardless of weather, lots of splashing in puddles. Play dough, scooping rice, colouring in cardboard boxes, playing on my “big bed” (lots of wrestling and hiding under the duvet), small world play. Bath time can be any time of day if I’m really stuck xD

But yeah, I feel your pain. Lots of stuff is still closed and what’s open is jam packed.

Im finding the same OP. Even though things are opening up, there’s no spontaneity as everything needs prebooking. Rainy day - soft play? Oh, it’s fully booked. Swimming? Same. There’s a country park I’d like to go to but you have to book a week in advance to get a morning slot (and with the price I want a full day not 2 hours in the afternoon) and there’s very little to do there if the weathers not good. So we haven’t been. I’m finding it all so tedious. Not to mention the lack of baby groups. No suggestions I’m afraid, just sympathy.

thank you, everyone! and sorry for the moan....i guess that mine is super sociable but as everyone said if we try to go anywhere it's all fully booked etc.

pre--COVID i always used museums as an easy fallback option especially when it's raining (we are in London) but now you need to plan everything weeks ahead. So it's not like you can look outside see that it's raining and go off to the science museum or anything.

it sort of feels like for lots of child free friends their life has basically gone back to normal but not for us. i mean lots of my friends arent even happy to have people around to theirs, which was fine in the summer but is a bit of a drag in this weather.

i should probably just write down a list of all the things that we can do ....that usaully cheers me up

it might also be a thing of him being an only child. i dont feel that my friends with two kids feel as much of a need to entertain theirs or do stuff with them. like if it's raining then the kids just stay indoors and play together whereas mine just gets bored of it just being me and him.

I think by winter he will be getting on for 3 (or so) and it will be massively better. My son was 2 1/2 at the start of lockdown and it was a nightmare. Now he will happily play for 40 mins or more with his train set, duplo, or those magnetic construction tiles. He can also play various number games on the iPad (which seem quite useful!) and will sit and look at books in bed for 20 mins or so after lights out. Washing up is another good thing -- or if you have a bit of a garden and can bear it, making a 'pond'. 'Helping' with cooking and other household tasks. (He actually genuinely helped me the other week by holding things as I swore and tried to assemble a piece of IKEA furniture.) And do you have an easel? Painting was one of the first things he did by himself. Just put newspaper down first and a big overall on him!

Following this. DS is almost 2.5 and he doesn’t really play independently for more than 5-10mins at a time, so looking after him
means constant entertainment. I’ve been wfh and DH has been mostly looking after DS, but DC 2 is due in a couple of months and I’m dreading winter with a newborn and a toddler to entertain. Also in London but don’t drive and not keen on public transport. It’s so hard!

Feel your pain. My DS is nearly 2 and second baby due next week - dreading winter if things don’t drastically improve!!!

yep, winter is going to be pretty weird.

Both DH and I also work from home things do feel pretty samey, except that I guess this might be our new normal so should probably get used to it.

@HarrietM87 - we also dont have a car, so here's hoping we can still use the tube to get out and about, though it doesnt feel normal at all especially with a toddler.

i do wish spontaneity and normal things come back, but who knows when