Filling the days

28 replies

belindabunny · 17/01/2024 18:19

I am a SAHM to 2 boys, I didn't earn enough working to cover childcare so it never made sense to go back to work. I find it so hard to fill the days - we go to playgroups in the mornings (normally up to 2 hours), and out for a walk/to the park in the afternoons (again up to 2 hours), but there is still so much time to fill (only one still naps and neither qualify for free childcare yet). They end up having so much screen time because I just run out of ways to entertain them when we're home. Any 'playing' can only last so long!
Just wondered if anyone had any suggestions/advice for how to fill 12 hour days with toddlers?!

OP posts:

Essie274 · 31/01/2024 23:31

BrieAndChilli · 17/01/2024 21:51

when my 3 were younger I would do theme weeks so for example farm week
we would go to a local farm attraction, get out the happy people farm, read any farm themed books we had, watch farm themed episodes of kids programmes, make cotton wool sheep, colour in farm themed pictures, mini carrots and houmous for snacks, bake a farm themed cake or biscuit. Make tractors out of tissue boxes etc go to the supermarket and pick some new and soffeeent fruit and veg to taste.
gives a bit more structure to the week, gets out toys you may not play with often and gives you a starting point to think about activities wtc

other themes could be space, pirates, transport, under the sea, dinosaurs etc.

Also this sounds AMAZING and is the kind of thing I used to do when I worked as a nanny. I do not have the energy or brain space to do this for my own children, though! We do a 'theme of the month' and just do our best

Original poster

belindabunny · 01/02/2024 00:34

Thank you so much for all the helpful responses. I think I just felt a bit stuck in a rut too so it was refreshing to get some new ideas and reassuring to see I do a lot of the same as you all. Being a SAHM is tougher than I ever thought it would be, but it is happy too. Today my boys and I spent an hour watching cars go by and shouting when we saw a bus/coach/truck!

OP posts:

WutheringCripes · 28/02/2024 16:03

Fantastic thread, I've just read and have loads of new ideas!

I make an activity basket every evening so there's something ready to go in the morning. I tend to do a theme but not always.

I'll usually put a couple of books, a puzzle, stickers, paper and pens, and an simple craft activity, like the SES ones.

Really helps me not dread an early wake up.

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