What do you do when your toddler is playing?

[bloomety]

When DS 2 is playing with his cars or train I just don't know what to do with myself. I don't like being on my phone around him. I can't watch tv as he's too loud. What do you do? I do play with him but not all the time.

Play with him. He won’t have it any other way or just hangs off my leg

Laundry, cooking, feed animals, clean kitchen, etc etc.

Play with her, draw, read, listen to the radio, cool, bake, clean, tidy.

Crochet, cook, garden, read the newspaper, do the washing,

That’s a good question OP I often feel the same. I sort of hover around and try to join in but otherwise don’t know what to do with myself. There’s only so much wiping down the surfaces and unloading the dishwasher you can do!

Hide in the kitchen eating biscuits.

Just stare at the wall, really

Wow. I never understand how people can get to this point! Lucky! There is always so many things I need to do! House always looks like a mess. How do you keep it in order I’m curious? As if my kids are occupied I’m either preparing their next meal, my next meal, the dogs meal, doing laundry, hanging laundry, folding laundry, cleaning the kitchen, picking up toys, putting away books, taking a shower, washing one kid, and so on! When I had one kid I had the same struggle of trying to keep house in order.... please let me know your trick so I can wonder what to do with myself when baby is occupied and my older two are in school! Bc I usually have a million chores. Even though we have a cleaner that comes twice a week!!

Go on my computer and read mumsnet :o

I suppose that's the same as being on your phone though.

Read a book?

Grab the opportunity to do the housework/laundry/cook without a child hanging off my ankle demanding attention. Or sit with a cup of tea. Or secretly shovel in some chocolate in the kitchen (though she can hear the wrapper, smell the sugar, and see me chewing from the other side of the house).

I used to be really glad when he played alone! Gets up to no good a fair bit now though and the telly has been strapped down after he pulled down a new one (the straps hadn't arrived yet).

I used to hide in the other room with a book, or my phone.

Make yourself look comfy then naturally they will come over to ask you to play. wish I had this problem though haha! DS makes me play all the time

Mumsnet! Read a book, sort the washing, tidy up.

@Disappointedkoala

Hide in the kitchen eating biscuits.

This, times a thousand.

Tidy

Or I get a coffee and read a book.... or go on mumsnet. Toddlers don't notice what I do when they're engaged.

Hmm I'm on top of all the housework. I do washing twice a week. Empty the dishwasher once a day. Mopping and cleaning is when he's at nursery. I started making bread in lockdown. I think I'll start that again. I literally having nothing to do.

. I literally having nothing to do

Just play with them Then