Mumsnet users share with Sky Kids what they could get done in 30 minutes

[EllieMumsnet]

This activity is now closed

It’s fair to say that once you become a parent your efficiency skills reach their ultimate potential...gone are the days of spending spare minutes procrastinating about the million-and-one things you need to do. Now, when your DCs are watching a bit of telly you can complete the work that previously would have taken you five days of faffing. In half an hour you've changed the beds for the entire family, responded to your important emails, cooked a meal for four people (with dessert), and painted your toenails an exotic shade of blue. With that in mind, Sky Kids would love to know what you can do in the 30 minutes your children are having some down time.

Here’s what Sky Kids has to say: “The Sky Kids App is the perfect solution to keep your kids occupied during their (and your) well-earned downtime. …..With thousands of shows on demand including Paw Patrol, Ben 10 and Horrid Histories and interactive games for all ages like Art Studio, you can buy yourself some free time (enjoy that home pedicure!) safe in the knowledge that the available shows and games they're watching are age-appropriate and of course, entertaining.”

Do you have a to-do list ready and waiting for when you get a spare 30 mins so you can zap through it all? Perhaps when the children are watching Paw Patrol you manage to call and check in with family members whilst simultaneously preparing for a meeting you have the following day? Or maybe you sneak off to another room, finally able to treat yourself to a relaxing bath or watch your favourite TV show while the children watch theirs?

Whatever you’re able to get done, share it on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one winner will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

Loads! Hoover, wash in, tea on, bit of tidying!

At the start of the day (after a cuppa) my 30 minutes means I can get my two jobs done, then have breakfast. That's my housework for the day sorted, so relief and a lack of guilt means I can do whatever I like.

If I know I am going to have 30 minutes uninterrupted, there is nothing I like more than to have a relaxing bath, wash and dry my hair and apply some make-up, with a cup of tea on the go.

Alternatively, if motivated and pressed for time, I can make some vanilla cupcakes, prepare and put on a slow-cooked meal with loads of veg, and prepare the buttercream to decorate said cupcakes.

When at the mercy of others, I can call to speak to someone about tax credits and spend the full half-hour (and more) on the phone

I respond to my emails and deal with bills etc.
I'll make a start on dinner.
Then change the bedding in one room. I'm struggling with sciatica so getting anything done in a short amount of time is difficult.

I can hoover, wash up and load washing machine in 30 minutes

I desperately WANT to find time to finish reading the book i've been trying to finish for months! but the reality is that the main go-to job that seems to always need doing is sorting the dry clothes from the airing cupboard and putting it all away so the kids don't run out of pants and socks!

In 30 minutes, i can get the laundry in off the line and fold and put it away upstairs then throw bleach down the loo and bring all the bins down for emptying, then i can take out all the rubbish and remember my cold cup of coffee on the side before one of the toddlers yells mam ive done a poo and needs their bottom wiping.

I could hoover the house from top to bottom and also tackle the toy box and get rid of a few bits whilst the kids are not looking

There's always a list. I just run through as many as possible

Just enough time to hang out the washing, get dinner on and tidy downstairs before DS comes in moaning he's hungry, again

I usually sort washing, put a load on and either a load on the line or bringing it in and putting away.

definitely a 30 minute power clean as well as drinking a hot coffee

With two little ones 30 minus in one go is like gold dust!!...
But when I get them it allows me to :
Prepare a meal
Tidy up
Do the washing
Ironing
Malke a call
Do my hair
Go on line

If I find out someone's coming over I can do an amazing amount of emergency tidying in 30 minutes to make the house look half decent! On a normal day I'll let the kids have something on TV after getting home, start dinner, load/unload dishwasher, sort washing and make packed lunches for the next day.

Some work! I'm self-employed and taking maternity leave didn't make any sense, so I try and fit work around him...doesn't always work!

In 30 mins I can hoover the whole house including under the beds, behind sofas and the cat tree. I do have a small flat though! But lots of cat hair!

I'd be tempted to have a catnap...

Let me see 30 minutes ....

The most productive is probably in the morning-

I'm thinking (once I'm up dressed & downstairs):-
Raise kids with a little music,
Make breakfasts,
Make packed lunches,
Plait daughter's hair,
Get son up (he has profound special needs) and put him on a gastro-feed
Put a load of washing in
Write a shopping list,
Encourage the kids to get up, dressed and teeth brushed whilst I'm
Walking the dog round the block,
Check everyone has PE kits, books, homework, etc,

It's like a military procedure in our house.

Grab the car keys and then we're good to go!

all sorts, ironing, baking, watering the garden!

Could put dinner on, get the pots washed, hoover the room and most importantly sit down with a glass of something fizzy.

4 kids being entertained for half an hr🤔
I'd love to say have half an hour to myself but it generally consists of putting tea on, hoovering the house, get interrupted then have to play referee between the kids, quickly do the daily bathroom clean, get washing in and fold it up then maybe wash and dry a few pots, continue working or do abit of ironing whilst waiting for the tea to cook.
☕️😴

cooking!

TBH it depends how much sleep I have had. If its been a bad night then I will have a long shower and a cup of tea in that time.

If its been a better night then I will normally tidy the kitchen, and hall (putting away the shoes/coats etc), collect the dirty washing and put that load on and wash the dishes.

I reckon I could hoover the whole house (properly). My wife disagrees !.

In 30 minutes I can change the sheets on the beds, put a wash on (and when going up and down stairs take crap that has travelled around the house).. flush the toilet. Refill toilet rolls, wipe my toddler's backside. Wash hands. Vacuum, make beds. Put dinner on.