How can i keep dd2 busy?

[Marne]

Dd2 was very ill at the weekend and we ended up in hospital as she refused to drink , she has a nasty virus + tonsitis (sp). She's now on the mend but i have decided to keep her home from nursery as i don't want her picking anything else up when her amune system is so lo. This means dd2 will be home for 2.5 weeks (she has a week and a half for half term), she has already broken dd1's playmobil and worn out the colouring books.

What can i do to keep her busy?

Its hard trying to explain to her to take things easy so i need to try and keep her stillish (she keeps doing to much and then falls asleep by 4pm).

does she like sorting/matching?

picture lotto games can keep dd1 occupied for a while (she sits and does the matching herself, rather than playing the game, if I don't have the time to sit with her)

or sorting out lego bricks into colours/shapes/sizes?

dressing/undressing teddies? dd1 has no imaginative play at all, but quite likes dressing a couple of teddies u in old baby clothes - right down to hat/scarf/gloves.

dd1 will sometimes sit happily and look through photos too. she enjoys posting them, so will sit with a big pile, go through them labelling and then post into her toy postbox. same with flashcards

Thanks silverfrog, those are all great ideas, she loves lego and sorting things .

ooh, if she is that keen then you can always hand over the laundry basket too

I have had dd1 sorting out her wardrobe before now, as a change of things to sort/match - hey, if she enjoys it (and natch gets lots of praise for being helpful, etc) then why not?

the possibilities are endless - tidier kitchen cupboards, no more single lost lonely socks hanging around...

I tend to stick mine in the bath for an hour or so - often with toy plastic animals or duplo to wash. (I sit in the corner and read a book or sort the laundry in the hall or something.