Any ideas for activities for young children so I can actually sort the house?

[dashingthruthesnow]

Please don’t suggest them helping me - they’d create chaos. I really need something for my 4 yo and 18 month old. I just need them to play themselves for a bit so I can do some housework. They’ve been out this morning so I’m not being really mean. They’ve don’t watch tv.

It's tough @dashingthruthesnow because of their ages. With an 18 months old I could have had him shadow me a bit while doing the odd bits. With a 4 year old I could maybe get him set up with figures, Duplo or even sometimes doing a 'little job' for bits at a time. But those 2 ages together... Yikes 😬 It's tricky because the youngest probably isn't old enough to properly play with the eldest I'm guessing?

Your best bet would be to get them out the house with someone and crack on, but obviously that's not always an option!

Would they not even watch half an hour or 20 mins whilst you put a wash on or anything? Or let them go wild in one (safe) room while you blitz the one next to it for short bursts?

Ask on your facebook group if anyone has a puppy crate to lend you ;)

What rooms do you most need to do? I could get some mileage out of sticking them both at the kitchen table with playdoh or colouring stuff whilst I did the kitchen and chatted to them. Similarly, could stick them in the bath tub (no water) with something like a packet of dry pasta and scoops, spoon, pots, etc. If I wasn't insisting they 'help' tidy their toys, sorting the lounge tended to involve getting them to run/crawl/jump up and down the hall next to it being dogs, rabbits, etc.

Mine didn't really do being in a separate room from me for any real length of time at that age, so it was all about things they could do nearby with quite a lot of verbal interaction, but without actually being underfoot.

Thanks so much. Sorry - I seized my moment! Little one is having a nap and the kitchen has been cleaned. The two of them were quite naughty this morning and emptied a load of stuff out of drawers in the four year olds bedroom this morning so I’m sorting that while he watches tv. Bad mum I know but we are going to the library and park in a couple of hours so not all is lost!

Eh, a bit of television on a tricky day is a long, long way from the end of the world, and if any of the ideas sound like they'd suit your children, I'm sure there will be other days to try them.

I hope the afternoon goes more smoothly!

Ahem, yes, I was popping along to say this is what CBeebies is for, in a limited way, as a balanced diet of other wholesome activity 😂

If it makes you feel better, iPlayer usually uploads CBeebies panto etc specials from prior years so you can pretend they're Christmas events!

Building a den/fort in the living room usually occupies my 3 year old for a good while. Build it for them and put lots of cushions and books in. A torch is always good too.

No easy answer to this I'm afraid. I know you don't want the television suggestion BUT iplayer have the Julia Donaldson animated stories to watch and they are lovely. Only half an hour long so you don't have to feel toooo guilty.

Would they be able to play in a den if you made one behind the sofa?

My son loves water and would happily play with a bowl of water, pouring into containers and testing floating. Having said that there was generally always an outfit change needed and it may not be the time of year but...