If you have a 18mo, what do you do with them?

[chananasaurus]

I'm just curious about what others do day-to-day and I'm especially wondering what you maybe do during those afternoons where you're feeling a bit tired/low on energy (as that is what I'm feeling right now).

For us - We go to the park in the morning, she naps in the middle of the day until about 2, then we either walk into town and mosey around the shops or play in the garden for a while since the weather is nice. Sometimes I worry that I'm not 'doing enough' with her and now I'm feeling so low on energy and feeling the mum guilt because I've popped her in front of cartoons which I know I shouldn't really do.

What do you do?

Do you have any play groups nearby that you could attend?

Our routine at the moment (2yo and 11mo) is usually a play group or class in the morning, nap at lunch time and then afternoon will either just be chilling at home playing with toys/watching TV/reading books or pop out somewhere local like the park or library.

I too worry that it's not 'enough' - I think everyone does to a certain extent!

Look up local toddler groups in your area and do all of them! Also check out the library there's probably story time or rhyme time

At that age socialisation is everything, for you too

Swimming lessons

For me I would swap that around, so town in the morning and park after nap. For me town would be the less enjoyable bit so get it out the way, and Im a morning person actually so maybe that’s why.

It sounds like you’re doing just great, they just want you and chats and fresh air and play really. One thing that was very low-effort and kept my kids busy for HOURS at that age was I got a big cardboard box, opened it out, and we drew our own play mat with our friends houses, all the different parks and places we go to regularly on, and they used their little cars on it. Lasted a couple of years and I could sit with a cup of tea going ‘oh yes! Mm. Cool!’ every so often ha.

At that age, we were going to regular playgroups a couple of times a week, Park (sometimes meeting a friend is made in playgroup)
Walks in woods
Local city farm
Feeding ducks
Library weekly
At home it was
Playing in the garden
Watching tv
Toys (stacking cups and anything involving balls was particularly good)
Colouring especially those 'magic' water pens as less mess.
And just accompanying me on errands or a day out.

Also I used to do theme days 😄 sounds like effort but if you pre-plan on an energised day you have a quite low-effort day to pull out on a low energy day.

So say the theme was farm; I would have in mind, or actually gather:
farm books
farm tots
farm tv show (tractor ted 🙌🏻)
farm theme puzzle?
farm songs on spotify
farm play doh stuff??
farm colouring
farm snack time??? Carrots and …? Something mud-like? 😄 might fit better with another theme eg star shaped pasta on space day!
Just whatever you already have in the house.
And then you can feel like you had a lovely curated day haha.
Also locally there is a v cheap and quick farm you can visit so maybe that in the morning.

We did the same with space and Dinos too.

Tots=toys!

Mine isn’t 18 months old yet, but I would say regular toddler groups, and swimming will be part of our routine.

We used to do a walk or something in the morning, pop to shops or see friends then afternoon at home with films and their toys. I've never really 'entertained' my DD, i'll play some games etc but always encouraged her own imagination

Yes to playgroups or find other local mums and rotate which house you hang out in or meet at a local park/pool.

If she's happy though and you're happy no need to worry about "doing stuff"! They drink in everything at this age just from living life. No special activities needed.

My DD is 15 months and has just gone down to 1 nap the last few days, I've been feeling the same

I work three days a week, my mum has her when I'm at work and usually takes her food shopping/soft play/ park

We used to go to a toddler group on a Thursday but they stopped doing it. I think I'm going to try and find another now that she's napping at lunch. I would also really like to start taking her swimming as well, she started walking a few days ago as well so this makes life easier.

But for the last couple of months that the baby group stopped, we would walk the dog and play in the garden, do chores round the house whilst she played with her toys. I feel bad about it like I'm not doing enough, we live in the middle of nowhere so she doesn't seem loads of people.