Post c-section, entertainment ideas for 4 year old

[ElderflowerExplosion]

Hi all, am due to have a scheduled c-section next week. Obviously school hols are just about to start & we have a very busy 4 year old to entertain! My partner can only really take minimal time off work (the 2 weeks paternity leave absolute max) and I have no family nearby. So looking for ideas to keep DD busy which involve as little effort as possible 😂 we live in a small village so no soft play etc locally & I won’t be able to drive for at least a couple of weeks. She loves doing crafts etc but there’s a limit to how much of that you can do… any ideas welcome please!

I am also struggling a bit with this - DS is two and a half and I had my section yesterday! I am feeling it right now but hoping in two weeks it won’t be as bad! Do you have a garden? I’m really hoping that may be our salvation, it’s going to be a tough six weeks.

Do you have a garden?

Water painting is great - literally just a little pot of water and a brush. Paint onto a hard surface outside and it will “magically vanish”. You could also get DP to draw squiggles and shapes in chalk for DD to paint over.

Pasta and wool to thread into necklaces - wrap a bit of tape over the end of the wool and it is easier to do because it’s a bit like a needle.

Gentle baking/fridge cake etc? Give her a bowl of water at the table to splash around in for “washing up” (again DP could set up before going to work).

Make a challenge grid of little household jobs and let her choose her own challenge each day - little things like tidy shoes into matching pairs, sweep up with a dustpan for 3 minutes and see how much she can collect, fold small items of laundry, pair socks etc.

This is where TV comes into its own...I'm a bit out of date as my kids are older but it doesn't all have to be totally mindless eg there are art programmes for your little crafter (does Mr Maker still exist on Cbeebies?), cosmic yoga on YouTube for some yoga-based workouts for kids (often character themed) etc.

Go easy on yourself x

Hama beads
Playdoh
Jigsaws
Paddling pool (if sun comes back!)
Chalks for outdoors
Bubbles
Books
Invite friend over & try get an invite back

If you use childcare can you book a couple of days a week? Or couple of mornings?

Have you looked into the possibility of a post birth doula to help out?

Thank you, some great suggestions here, some good crafty ideas, @QueenOfWeeds like the idea of the little household challenges list as she wants to do helpful stuff atm (although “helpful” with little ones seems to translate into causing more stuff to do for mum 😂)& will def be doing some garden stuff as we’ve got a bit of garden… thinking maybe get the tent out of the loft & set that up as her den or something. Plenty of bug hunting, books & crafts coming I think… reckon I’ll be doing an order from hobbycraft or somewhere to keep her supplied!
@LostBiro yep there’s definitely gonna be a lot more telly on in the coming weeks!
@Oceansinourway oh bless you only yesterday, hope it all went ok for you… congratulations too! Having a 2.5 year old as well sounds tough, at least mine’s old enough to understand things a bit more. Hoping you manage ok!
@converseandjeans unfortunately her preschool she usually goes to is closed for summer hols & don’t do any summer clubs etc… am writing down the suggestions from your list tho!
@Hodgewell1 I didn’t know about post birth doulas actually, I thought they only did the actual birth bit! Unfortunately I find it quite stressful having to spend time with people I don’t know so it’s not something for me but sounds lovely for others who might not have family support.

@ElderflowerExplosion how self sufficient/messy is she? You could set up a little snack/drink area like she might have in nursery/school and again get DP to set it up before work. Fill her water bottle, put out some fruit/whatever. You can also get plastic drinks dispensers with a little tap on so she can pour her own water, but you might need to train her on that first! Will save you getting up if she’s hungry/thirsty.

Also, get DP to make packed lunches for you and DD so you can just grab when convenient. Get DD to do all your bending down for you - in my experience children love picking stuff up (and they really love sweeping things up!).

@QueenOfWeeds thank you, that all sounds like great advice, tbh I like the drinks dispenser idea so much think I’ll be using it too 😁will be breastfeeding so know I’ll be extra thirsty!
Do like the thought of having a “ready made” packed lunch although DD absolutely LOVES making a sandwich for her preschool packed lunch so I might be using that as an activity as well!!