Crikey, is it me or has autumn come around quickly? One week we were at the beach paddling happily in the shallows and applying Factor 50 as if our lives depended on it, and now here we are holed up at home with the rain trickling down the window panes while my beautiful hanging baskets take a right royal battering by the wind. I can see them now, two bright orange and yellow pendulums swinging about like a pair of Pat Butcher's earrings.
So here it is again, the conundrum of how to keep a toddler occupied when the sky is tumbling down outside. Thankfully, all our groups have started back after the summer so most weekday mornings are filled going to church halls or the local swimming pool, but what to do with the afternoons, or on a day with nothing in the diary?
Painting, stickers, playdough are the obvious choices. Activity Village www.activityvillage.co.uk is a wonderful resource for crafty ideas. Nursery rhymes and making music is good too. Baking flapjacks is great if my little helper is up for some serious oats and honey stirring and we love eating the fruits of our labour. Telly of course is an option, but always with the added guilt that there must be something more inspiring and educational we should be doing instead (although I am in the camp that TV can be both of these).
Playdates with other mums are ideal as you get to put the world to rights over a cuppa while your little ones learn to socialise and share toys (or not).
Soft play centres are an option although the hassle of driving to our closest one and knowing it will be chock-a-block always puts me off a bit (do any of you 30-somethings remember the kids' telly show Chock-A Block? Now that was perfect rainy day entertainment).
So there are my options and they've got to last all winter. Having written them down, the list seems pretty long although when one activity can only last ten minutes before his interest begins to wane, I need all the ideas I can get. Any other suggestions gratefully received. Now where's that cookie cutter?
My sister's is a member of that place near Hurn Airport with the massive indoor play area? She says it's quieter with an Annual pass in the winter. My family is in Bournemouth and although I am in Brighton, it's where I am originally from. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence that you are from Bournemouth (which is where I grew up and where my parents still live). Don't know the soft play near Hurn - will have a look into it (unless you mean Adventure Wonderland which we haven't tried yet).
DeleteYes, I think that's it! Tried it with my boys. She used to use it all the time. There's a cafe and sofas. Need I say more? :)
DeleteCafe and sofas? I'm getting in the car now!
Delete12 outta 10....Think you've covered the lot...
ReplyDeleteI think the best thing, is mixing with other children. With a parent always there, at least with-in ear-shot.
As l've said before, my home was always full of kids, always plenty to do, and, l never made the decisions, left it to them...But, l had time on my hands to do it. I never bothered with pre-school/nursery, she started school at the age of five...
I know it's difficult nowadays, Mums and Dads having to work....Finding the time...But, l do think, with children at an early age, we should all try to find time....
HeHe! Sorry.....I'll put my soap-box away now...! :>).
Oh! I was having a coffee in Costa in Wimborne earlier, just browsing through the Wimborne Mag.
'Little Guides' Saw a little article....'How Long Will You Live'. Babies born in the Autumn, are more likely to live to 100 than those born at any other time....Sept-Nov....With the fewest between March/July....
I thought Whey-Hey....Just had my birthday last Friday....Happy Days.....!! :).
Yes, if you can be with your little one and not work that is great but not always possible unfortunately. I am lucky enough that I just do one day a week working at my parents while the little man is downstairs with his grandparents and he can come up and see me whenever he wants which is ideal.
DeleteHappy birthday for Friday. x
Bad weather can be a real test of one's mothering patience I find. Yes to playdates in the afternoon! Last winter, I found that raking the leaves in the garden occupied my son for a long time. Baking is always a good one if you have the energy. I find my son loves a task or job now...helping clean/ sort out the recycling..if I tell him it's an 'important job' and am very clear on the task he will happily apply himself for ages. A trip to the library can kill an hour or so, or quite regularly I decamp to our local Waterstones and we read books there, or visit the oxfam book shop buy a book and then go for a babyccino/ coffee and read it. At least it gets us out of the house.
ReplyDeleteMaking a den with blankets / cushions is always a popular one too. And I've just remembered playdoh. That does keep them quiet for a while I find. Just a shame about the shredded mess that is left everywhere afterwards!
Some really good ideas - thanks for that. Love the idea of a babyccino/coffee!
DeletePerfect timing, my little man has a stomach bug and I will be off work with him tomorrow as nursery won't take him back until 24 hrs after last loose nappy. I stayed home with him yesterday too and went through most of your indoor list! flapjacks are a good idea as are setting tasks, he loves helping to load the washing machine. TV is good if you can expand on it, we often watch 'show me show me' and join in with finding our toy and singing the songs.
ReplyDeleteMy little man has a bit of a stomach bug too - must be going back to all the groups after the holidays. They are passing around all their germs! Glad the list helped. Like the idea of making a game from one of their fave TV programmes.
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