Juggling siblings needs

[getbakainyourjimjams]

Interested in this one.

DS2 is now 4, ds3 1 (so not too worried about him- he's still too young to notice).

DS2's life is beginning to be a bit limited by ds1. As ds1 has got older it has become harder and harder to take him out, to the point where unless he has 1 on 1 and complete free rein we really can't very easily. Obviously this limits ds2 as well. He goes to nursery 4 mornings and 1 full day. I take him and ds3 to a swimming lesson once a week (but no other kids in the class). DS1 also goes to respite on occasional Sundays and we then try to do something with ds2 and ds3- eg pub lunch.

He does have to spend a lot of time in and we can hardly meet up with other families for a lovely day out. Aged 4 (next week) he has never been to the cinema or theatre, hardly ever been to soft play, never been to fetes or fairs or theme parks, never sat on a beach with a bucket and spade. He is sociable and friendly and loves nursery. He hasn;t been invited to many parties, but I think that's because a) I don't know the other mums and b) I hold his party in nursery so we don't get reciprocal invites. He's loved the ones he's gone to.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma- ds1 needs time with us as well. Should I be enrolling ds2 for more things (stagecoach, karate, football???) or should I be letting him chill a bit and encourage shcool friendships and extra curricular school stuff when he starts in September.

He seems happy- but I worry that he has missed out on a lot, and I don't want that to become a problem.

Can one adult take DS2 and DS3 to activity and / or outing for a couple of hours at the weekend, while other adult stays at home / goes for walks with DS1?

My DS1 is just 3 (and challenging / probably AS) and DS2 is just 1, and I'd take them both to swimming, fetes, parks etc.

Round here there are some nice (and free) singing activities during school hours at the local library, also for singing try Monkey Music / Jo Jingles etc, though may be aimed at younger children.

Our leisure centre has all sorts of children's activites. At that age, many would be 'adult stay' but you'd be able to let DS2 do the activity while you (or DH) do things with DS3.

If he's into acting / singing the local theatre may do something less 'full-on' than stagecoach - ours does a (reportedly) lovely children's club (and we're in the sticks, too).

Horse riding would be £££, esp if he doesn't really want to do it!

Personally, if I were you, I'd try to do some occasional outings ( DS2 'we never go out at the weekend), but hold off formal activities till he's in school, when all sorts of extra-curricular stuff may (or may not) become available, and you might be able to figure out what other kids in his class do.