dreading autumn and winter with toddler - anyone else?

[Givemethesun]

Just that really. I’ve had an amazing summer with my toddler, but I found last winter so hard. The dark cold and rainy days……!

If you're in the UK where it has rained for a huge chunk of the summer, what have you done with your toddler to make it enjoyable? Cos you can do that in autumn too.

Mine is starting preschool in September, so she'll be occupied 5 mornings a week. Not sure how much entertainment she'll need in the afternoons as she naps and we do the school run for eldest. At weekends we have enough indoor options to keep us busy - museums, theatre shows, concerts, aquarium, play cafes, soft plays, library, swimming, climbing, gymnastics. We don't mind getting out to places in the rain as it's just getting to the bus stop or tube, then we can be indoors for a few hours. We don't get dressed up in puddlesuits and spend hours outside in the pouring rain though.

@Jorvik1 I’m in the NE and we’ve rarely had rainy days this holiday.

OP, autumn/winter is more difficult but swimming, toddler group, library, christmas lights at garden centre are all budget friendly options and can be done weekly.

I found autumn the easiest bit when mine were toddlers. Good water proof clothing on and they can still do everything in the park, and then there's all the leaves, acorns etc to collect and then use for crafts.

Given how rubbish the summer has been I can't see how autumn will be much different to be honest!

So much sympathy - I know what you mean. My youngest will be 4 this autumn and I think it will be easier. But it is so hard to be stuck inside during the years of constant vigilance.
Can you put in some routines for you - that you look forward to? I used to put mine to bed 30 mins earlier Sunday for example, used to do a buggy walk with a coffee & podcast after lunch days I wasnt working & it was fine even though he didn't need a buggy. Or whatever works to make you feel like you can prioritise yourself sometimes?

There's plenty you can do in the autumn. Get a rain onesie and still get out. You can still go to the beach, walk around parks or woods. Go for walks and them on bikes.

This.

A good warm, windproof puddle suit and wellies, and get out in every tiny bit of watery sunshine.

And hot chocolate rather than ice-cream. 🙂

There's plenty to enjoy about being outside in Autumn and winter as long as you're in warm clothes and wrapped up well.

Pinterest actually throws up some good ideas for Autumn activities with toddlers.

I'm looking forward too it. Parks/days out etc will all be quieter once the schools are back. While we haven't had many hot days this summer we have had some and I really dislike them.

The thread will soon fill up with puddle suits but I don’t find getting piss wet through enjoyable and neither do my children!

Plus it gets dark very early.

Soft play is our friend, and those role play places.

Thank you. This is my favourite answer 🤣 I know there’s lots to do outside in autumn theoretically, but I find it all so dismal when it’s damp, dark and cold.
Also we are in London so my summer has been ok weather wise!

Thank you I will take a look at Pinterest x

Thank you that’s helpful!x

Do you go to any playgroups? Indoor ones so the weather doesn't matter?

Silver lining... not having to do the sunblock battle any more

Also, waking up at dawn will happen at 7.30 instead of 5. Argh it's been a difficult summer

Thank you. Yes we do some stay and plays that we love. :) Genuinely they’re great. But for example our favourite has both an inside and outside area, so I’ll miss the ease of DD wandering between the inside and outside area for example without needing a big hooha of putting her coat and wellies on. I suppose I was just looking for a little moan about how much I hate autumn/winter because I really find that small things can become harder. It seems that it doesn’t phase everyone though per this thread so probably I need to be more positive haha x

oh yes a couple of positives there!

It definitely is much harder in autumn winter. In summer mine throw on a dress, pants and crocs and they're done. In winter you need far more clothes as a base then need to make sure you've packed puddlesuits and wellies and spare socks every time you go anywhere. You're also just much more likely to need a spare change of clothes too. I still do plenty in autumn/winter but I completely agree summer is much easier. I'm also much happier being outside myself on a sunny day than a grey one so a couple of hours in the park go by so much faster!

Agree with all of this!

Mine are teens now, but I still remember the horror of toddler autumn and winters. Toddler groups, library, swimming, museums, good waterproofs and baking got us through. Also toast and CBBC!

I've found that winter with kids isn't totally harder as such but definitely more expensive.

It's not just the higher heating bills, it's also going out...Going to the playground, having a picnic etc is free. Whereas if you want to get out of the house in winter, you generally have to pay (soft play, cafe, cinema etc).

Then there's more of a mental load/decision fatigue with every spending decision. Does dc really need that hot chocolate at £2.75? Etc all day long. Whereas in summer I can just pack a picnic cheaply

We'll be wrapped up and out in every single scrap of dry weather. Thankfully there is a play café a short walk from our house where we will be spending lots of time, and we'll be doing a rotation of play dates at friends' houses who also have toddlers (we're already talking about this in anticipation of the winter months!)

We'll also be doing trips to the museum where they have arts and crafts mornings, many visits to the library, and soft play. There are nice activities lined up like pumpkin picking, bramble picking, fireworks night, and December will have lots of nice Christmas activities to do. January and February will be jam packed with play dates while all the mums try to keep each other sane.

Thanks. Ah yes play dates could be useful - always so much easier to look after dd when there’s other tots around

I think it depends what you want to do. It’s definitely easier to plan days out and go on spontaneous park/beach trips in the summer but there’s also so much less on in terms of classes and stay and plays. I’ll be happy to have the routine of toddler/pre-school classes back as I then know what we will be doing on specific days every week. We have set classes and stay and plays on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and optional ones on Monday and Thursday so I only really need to find something for Tuesday and Saturday but I don’t drive so getting to and from these activities on the bus takes up quite a bit of time too!!