Any rural SAHMs around?

[suiledonne]

Just looking for some inspiration on activities.

I have 2 dc, 3 and 14 months.

We live near a very small village with no facilities at all. Our local town is hopeless too. They recently rebuilt the leisure centre and didn't include a children's pool and I am not a good swimmer so not confident taking 2 in on my own.

Parent and Toddler group is reforming after a break but other than that there is very little I can think to do outside the house.

What sort of stuff do you get up that doesn't involve a long drive?

go to all the P&T groups in neighbouring villaeges - ask local health visitor.

You'll prob find that nearby villages will have low cost music group etc etc

have you asked other mums in village what they do?

where are you?

How far would you have to drive to go to other playgroups?

I would get involved with the village playgroup that is being set up and hasten things along a bit. Also if there are a group of you could you do coffee mornings/trips out/share driving to activities further away once a month?

I accept that I will need to drive 20mins or so to get to toddlers and plan my day around that.

do you drive?
they probably have tumble tots etc in nearby places
go to your nearest library to find out more things that go on in the local community
for your 3 yr old you will be entitled to free preschool sessions the term after they turn 3 so find out where the nearest one is
once there the other parents will know what more is going on

also don't forget parks, fresh air, walking in the woods , picnics in the summer

Does the leisure centre do swimming lessons that your 3 yr old could go to whilst you take the baby swimming?

Agree with Needanamefast that you should try all the local villages for toddler groups etc. Also the chances are your local library will have a toddler rhyme and reading group at some point in the week.

Once your 3yr old is at preschool for even a couple of sessions you can take advantage of this and maybe do some classes with the younger one?

I'm in the same boat as you to some extent (only have a 3yr old) and moved from a big village (with its own nursery, shops, pool, school etc) to a tiny very rural village 250 miles north, and it took ages to find out everything that was going on in the area. I've accepted that the only thing I can do on foot around here is dog walking and taking out DD on her bike, for everything else I just get in the car. I have found tumbletots, swimming lessons, soft play, music group and a library toddler group all within 15 miles which is something I have had to put a fair amount of effort into.

I tend to combine trips out, though not sure how practicable this will be for you with 2 DCs - so for example if we are going to the big supermarket in the retail park 25 miles away, we will also check out the rabbits etc in Pets at Home/feed the ducks/bike around the park in the town/go to different playgrounds.

Have you tried the local NCT branch, though this does depend where you are. They will have a newletter thing with lots of ads for childrens activities in the area.

Thanks everyone.

I think I just find it hard to get motivated to get out and about. Once I get the girls organised and into the car half the day seems to be gone.

Going to check out the leisure centre and see what they have.

I am in rural Ireland - no Tumble Tots, music classes for toddlers or anything like that within a 60 mile radius I would think.

I know how you feel about getting out the house - i feel the same with my 2 yr old ds and 2 month old dd.
there must be loads of other mums in your situation though - ask the ones at toddler group what they do
you could start a messy play at a local church hall, say every other week, - have a sandpit out, and then do 2 activities, painting, playdough, cooking (there might be acooker in a church hall)

good luck!

Some cinemas do baby & Mother screenings in the morning, dependin g where you are, of course, suiledonne.
Some libraries do Storytime for toddlers, you could have a browse.

I found once i made a commitment to go to something once a week after a few weeks i started chatting to people
through that i found out about other toddler things going on
and eventually we started going round each other's houses and didn't bother with the groups
it took about a year for that to happen though so don't give up straight away
good luck

Look in the Yellow Pages under swimming pools - perhaps its a long shot where you are, but in our area there are a couple of small private pools which do swimming lessons and mother&baby sessions.