What to do with a 1 year old all day

[BabyLlamaZen]

Does anyone have an activity timetable that they follow with their 'only just toddling' toddler?

My day consists of breakfast, lunch, dinner, bath, reading and bed (with snacks and lots of nap fighting in between). We have two different parks near us that I alternate between. I play with him in his playpen when I'm not dragging him round the house cleaning up.

Honestly I'm bored to tears, help!

I would meet up with friends in playground and let them toddle about together,

Our usually go to places-
local community farm, free and can stroke and feed animals
Playgrounds
Feeding ducks
Local cafe soft play
Library
Friends houses
Meet other friends with kids similar age is key to me staying sane, the kids be kids and we can catch up and chat!!
Long daytime baths on rainy days
Visit relatives
I try and be outside for about 5 hours a day!!

Unfortunately with bloody Covid that's all you can really do.

If you are in a tier one area then you can see if there is a similar aged child he can play next to in your house or their house for your sanity.

Btw you are doing really well.

To be honest that's what I did with my dd pretty much. Always got a walk every day with the dog and then potter about at home.

@RedMarauder

Unfortunately with bloody Covid that's all you can really do.

If you are in a tier one area then you can see if there is a similar aged child he can play next to in your house or their house for your sanity.

Btw you are doing really well.

Thank you! It's hard as he will definitely crawl over another child. Social distancing not great with babies!

@OverTheRainbow88

I would meet up with friends in playground and let them toddle about together,

Our usually go to places-
local community farm, free and can stroke and feed animals
Playgrounds
Feeding ducks
Local cafe soft play
Library
Friends houses
Meet other friends with kids similar age is key to me staying sane, the kids be kids and we can catch up and chat!!
Long daytime baths on rainy days
Visit relatives
I try and be outside for about 5 hours a day!!

I would love all this! A lot of those not on atm.

Does anyone do craft or baking? Only thing with baking is id want to make things he can eat!

I'm in the same boat as you. I always have a walk. Usually through the park and feed the ducks. But that's usually done by 10am. But now LO is a bit older I've been doing different activities which I found on Pinterest as we have no baby groups open here yet. They usually take a while to prepare and ages to clean up but she loves them. Love Pinterest for ideas 💡

I find craft and baking with young kids just doesn’t work IMO. Spend more time clearing up than doing the crafts, my DS would just sit there and suck the paint off a brush.

Are you in a level 2/3 Lockdown area? As if not there’s no reason not to get out and about. Here, baby groups are all running again.

Are swimming pools open in your area? I find that a good time filler / something to tire them out

Bath during the day not in the evening. Lots of bath toys and bubbles, maybe even get in with him. I make this an after lunch / before afternoon nap event with my 12 month old

Mine loved 'play baths' where no washing took place, just lots of splashing and toys. Sometimes non bath toys that I knew I could get properly dry after. Also shaving foam painting. Mix shaving foam with food colourings in a muffin tray and give the toddler a paint brush. Then just shower down the bath and tiles afterwards.
Wellies and tatty clothes and go hunting for mud or puddles. Jump, squelch, even let your child sit in the puddle. If you aren't far from home then they won't mind being a bit wet in the way home if it means a bath or some CBeebies under a blanket when you get in.
Buttons or large beads and containers/ ice cube trays to sort them into.
Make fake snow (Pinterest has loads of recipes) and put toy animals/doll house people in it.
Blow up balloons and play baby volleyball
Build a den under the dining table or sofa cushions.
Make gloop with cornflour (again, Pinterest!)
Make playdoh
Go to a train or bus station to watch the vehicles. Building sites are also fascinating for toddlers. Go on a bus ride if you normally drive everywhere busses are very exciting. You don't have to go anywhere, just go somewhere and come straight back.
Find some animals in a field to look at.
Feed ducks, just not with bread.
Have a tea party with actual water in the tea set.
Art with paper, stickers and crayons
Finger painting in angel delight, always a winner
Or real paint in a sealed zip lock bag. Put in 3 or 4 colours and allow the child to press the bag to mix the colours. (Best off taping the bag to the table or high chair for safety!
Give baby a massage. This works great before nap time.
Singing and action rhymes, then put your choice of music on and dance with baby in your arms to it.
Simple jigsaws.
Reading (the same book over and over and over)
Freeze little toys in an ice cream tub. Turn out onto a plate or into a cake tin and give the child a wooden mallet or or plastic knife so they can be an archaeologist.
Put toy cars on the coffee table and have races by zooming them off the end and seeing how far they go. My now 20 yr old would play that for hours.

Ugh I miss having a toddler SO much!!

@zeeboo

Mine loved 'play baths' where no washing took place, just lots of splashing and toys. Sometimes non bath toys that I knew I could get properly dry after. Also shaving foam painting. Mix shaving foam with food colourings in a muffin tray and give the toddler a paint brush. Then just shower down the bath and tiles afterwards. Wellies and tatty clothes and go hunting for mud or puddles. Jump, squelch, even let your child sit in the puddle. If you aren't far from home then they won't mind being a bit wet in the way home if it means a bath or some CBeebies under a blanket when you get in. Buttons or large beads and containers/ ice cube trays to sort them into. Make fake snow (Pinterest has loads of recipes) and put toy animals/doll house people in it. Blow up balloons and play baby volleyball Build a den under the dining table or sofa cushions. Make gloop with cornflour (again, Pinterest!) Make playdoh Go to a train or bus station to watch the vehicles. Building sites are also fascinating for toddlers. Go on a bus ride if you normally drive everywhere busses are very exciting. You don't have to go anywhere, just go somewhere and come straight back. Find some animals in a field to look at. Feed ducks, just not with bread. Have a tea party with actual water in the tea set. Art with paper, stickers and crayons Finger painting in angel delight, always a winner Or real paint in a sealed zip lock bag. Put in 3 or 4 colours and allow the child to press the bag to mix the colours. (Best off taping the bag to the table or high chair for safety! Give baby a massage. This works great before nap time. Singing and action rhymes, then put your choice of music on and dance with baby in your arms to it. Simple jigsaws. Reading (the same book over and over and over) Freeze little toys in an ice cream tub. Turn out onto a plate or into a cake tin and give the child a wooden mallet or or plastic knife so they can be an archaeologist. Put toy cars on the coffee table and have races by zooming them off the end and seeing how far they go. My now 20 yr old would play that for hours.

Ugh I miss having a toddler SO much!!

How did you manage all this? 🤣 sounds exhausting. I cant even brush my teeth without ds complaining let alone set all this up! But thanks for the ideas.