Stay at Home Mum- Things to do with toddler

[DC1stTimeMummy]

Hello,

I'm a stay at home mum so my 16 month old toddler doesn't go to nursery.

I wanted to ask those parents who are also stay at home parents, what sort of activities do you do with your toddler (indoors & outdoors). My toddler is very active & needs something to do differently otherwise he will get bored & restless.

Also, at what age did you send your toddler to nursery/ pre-school? I'm not sure whether to send him to pre-school when he is 2 years old to start to prepare him for school nursery (age 3)?

CBeebies Daydreams (on iplayer) was something I used if nap time wasn’t happening, but I still needed dc to relax. It is a sort of slow, mindfulness journey that saved my sanity!

We went to a pre-school at 2 1/2. In hindsight, this was a touch early (although no harm done) BUT that was all pre-pandemic when there were lots of classes, children’s centres, library rhyme times etc. - these days I might look to nursery as a way of accessing that sort of learning through play’ environment that I can’t find at the moment.

If there are any open spaces or toddler-friendly playgrounds near where you live, then I'd take him every day, rain or shine - even if it is just for a walk. They sleep better when they've had plenty of fresh air.

Do you take him to a parent and toddler group?

Out of the house:
Toddler groups
Soft play
Role play centre
Swimming
Baby gymnastics or baby music class or baby dance (not all 3 every term!)
Park visits
Farm or zoo (we get an annual pass each year for one or the other)
Visiting friends or family members

At home:
Playdoh
Messy play
Sensory play (we have a tuff tray, play with things like coloured rice, pasta, pom poms, tin foil, pipecleaners, feathers etc)
Play in the bath
Small world play
Reading
Painting, colouring etc.
Puzzles

I sent my older daughter to preschool at 2 years 9 months, and the younger will start when she is 3.
They don't need to prepare for preschool, preschool is prep for school. They don't need prep for the prep... or we would all put them in nursery from birth to prep for the prep for the prep 🤣

Every morning a different group - church halls, community centre, libraries either free or cheap.
Lunch at home together.
On a good day nap and housework - ds1 rarely past 2 1/2 but ds2 always.
In summer or a dry day we usually ended up in the park in the afternoon - we were lucky and had a choice of parks. A favourite was the tractor park. Then home for dinner and play then bed at 7.
Yes I had bad days where everything seemed hard and difficult as I’m human and so are my children but the good days were worth it and I’m grateful I had the privilege to be there. Finally wet days can be crafty or just wet play in the bath.

Outdoor:
Park (with a picnic in nicer weather!)
Soft play
Baby/toddler groups
Classes such as sensory, music, etc
Just go for a walk
Feed the ducks
Splash in puddles
Library

Indoor:
We have a lot of open ended toys (wooden rainbow, scarves, peg dolls, etc) that can cross over and lots of ways to use them
Lots of things like wooden blocks, Duplo, magnetic tiles
Arts, crafts, painting
Happy land toys
Puzzles/jigsaws
Singing with instruments/scarves/dancing and actions

My DD is a bit older now (2.5) but I'm also a SAHM. My health isn't always great so I cant overdo it. We always try to get out in the Mornings but it isn't always fun stuff. We do the food shop once a week, run errands, collect prescription from the pharmacy.

We go the library at least once a week. One local one is back doing rhyme time sessions and another will be back in the new year. Some have tables with paper/crayons to occupy them, then we chose books to take home.
We get a big bag of bird seed from pet shop, bag it up then go and Feed the ducks. Park if weather allows. Visit family or friends.

I found a recipe for homemade play doh that I'm going to try soon. Moon sand, rice, dry pasta, lentils, and so on for messy play. We get a tub with bubbles and wash her doll, animals, cars, plates.

Tuff tray and sensory play
Duplo
Colour themed play
Mini discos with bubble machines
Toddler park
Toddler groups

Also there is no right or wrong re nursery. My twins started at 15 months, my new baby will start at 9 months to a year. Know plenty of mums who's babies started at 6 months and loads who never went x

We love baking now the girls are two as well

Making dens. Tents. Getting a big cardboard box and pretending it's a castle or train or all sorts.
Pop up cheap ball pit and balls, pop out tunnel, lots of going through and under and in and around toddler 'assault course' pretty much.
Reading books. Practicing mark-making.
Splashing in a washing up bowl of water pretending to clean things.
Bashing random household objects together.
Singing, dancing, cheap disco ball and glow sticks allows for indoor discos.
Pulling things out of drawers and cupboards.
Soft toy tea party.

Some great ideas here that I am making a note of. I would say as well now the days are so short & dark if you can do some exercise together inside that will help him sleep & get you more quiet playtime - things like batting/ kicking a balloon around the room, running to fetch balls, throwing beanbags, activity songs (try youtube) or things like Andys Wild Workouts on cbeebies - a bit young to follow things exactly but he can have a go! Making dens and forts and bouncing on the sofa cushions on the floor!

When my children were preschool age we did an activity everyday, toddler group on a Monday, visit grandparents on a Tuesday, rhyme time on a Wednesday at the library, different toddler group on a Thursday and a dance class on a Friday. I liked a plan! Most afternoons we would get out for a walk from home to feed ducks or visit a playarea. My children started preschool when they got their free 15 hours at age 3 and this seemed to work well as by then some of the toddler groups they had lost interest in.

I sent DS at 2.5 years but I think that was a bit early for him. I waited until my second was 3 and she settled much better. All of the research suggests that they're better with you until two. Not a dog at anyone who has to, or chooses to send theirs earlier of course.

We've just sent ours as they turned 3 with the funded hours. On non nursery days we try to do something in the morning then either home for lunch or out for lunch, then it's not long until school pickup time.

We spend alot of time outdoors in all weather so park, nature reserve, petting farm, national trust, forest school etc. We have national trust membership.

Also playgroup, swimming, soft play, garden centre etc