Help! Keeping 3.5 y/o occupied whilst I recover from surgery!

[Wiccabicca]

I’m having surgery on Wednesday and the hospital have advised that I need to rest and keep my heart rate as low as possible for 2 weeks afterwards.

This week my 3.5 y/o dd will be going to nursery but the week after is half term and nursery is closed.

My dh could take unpaid leave to help take care of her but money is tight so we’d like to avoid that if possible.

I’m after some ideas to keep her entertained that don’t involve me moving or tidying up. Any tips or ideas would be much appreciated.

I think you will need to rest properly and call in help from family and friends of possible , I really do think your dh needs to take time off initially.

This is so important for your long term health - you need to get help from your OH and/or others.

Can your OH take half days? If he took the kid out for energetic mornings, you could then maybe supervise telly time in the afternoons

Does she have friends at nursery that she could have some play dates with (at their house!)? Stock up on suitable DVDs? Colouring books and crayons? Story books to read to her?

Sorry DVDs really made me laugh 😂

Why can't they DH take annual leave? Or be off sick with stress or carers leave?

DH needs to see what paid leave he can take from work. Perhaps a mix of paid and unpaid leave to soften the blow.

You need to rest and not be on childcare duty for the whole time. If you don't chances are you'll be sicker for longer.

Not sure why it's funny? I obviously don't know what equipment they have dvds obviously encompasses BluRay, 4K, streaming on demand films etc.

We were asked for entertainment suggestions not tell the OP to do what they have already considered and would like to avoid.

If you have a local teen you could pay to come in for some mornings to do some more active play that might help? My dd does babysitting and often the parent is working from home, just doesn't want the kids in front of tv whole day so she does stuff with them. Cheaper than nursery.

I don't know anyone who has DVDs and more, and BluRay?! 😂

Is there anyone who could take her to the park in the mornings to burn some energy? Then it might be easier to have chilled out afternoons.

I'd make your lounge a cinema with popcorn and have daily movie screenings. Have you got Disney subscription?

I have this thing called a crafty pod my son sits in to do kinetic sand or any other sensory activities. You could have a little mystery bag each day with stuff in

Lots of snacks.... Homemade ice lollies are big in this house and take a while to eat.

Sticker books

My 4 year old has never even seen a DVD, but yeah I think snacks and screentime are your only hope if they are at home with you.

Can DH work from home and/or do half days so he can do something active with her then you can supervise watching a flim?

We have loads of DVDs. Not everyone is a slave to the streaming apps!

Hide some small toys in trays of coloured ice and get a spoon to try and dig them out.......used to keep mine occupied for ages. Wrap a pass the parcel and everything she fears you a picture she can open a layer. Buy/borrow some games where she can move about but you can sit still. Twister, the floor is lava.....
Print off some treasure hunts and leave a small prize at the end of them. Get your oh to put the clues out before he leaves for work.
Air dry clay, puzzles anything that allows you to sit and help. Good luck with your op

Every time she draws 🤦🏼‍♀️

Thank you for the ideas everyone. Some good ones in there. I particularly like the bribing her to draw😂

Unfortunately this operation is last minute so DH has already taken all his holidays. He can have carer leave but that will be unpaid. I’m self employed so won’t be earning. We don’t have any family nearby and friends all work. He’s going to work from home as much as possible to help me out but I wanted to get some activities and entertainment ready.

We’ve got the first 4 days post op covered so I’m hoping I will be over the worst by then.

Do you have any friends who could WFH at your house on days when your OH in the office?

Obviously they would need to work but they could take your DD out at lunchtime and just be on hand if anything happened