Newly a stay at home mom

My daughter is 18 months old, If I take my her out, we feed the ducks, go to various parks, indoor soft plays. If I stay at home she likes to bake with me, we do various arts and crafts activities, play in the garden. I get there is only so much you can do, so I’ve started sending her to nursery one day a week, she’s starting 2 days a week from September. It’s tough being a stay at home mum trying to find different activities to keep them entertained so I feel you there!x

I like to have a mix of things to do on any given day. Like, one thing for them to look forward to (grandma's coming, we're going to the park, we're having lunch with daddy, we're having a play date with your friend), some time for them to fill in their own (I'm going to do dishes now, can I get the play dough/tea set/checkers/dot markers down for you first?), and something that is routine that we do every day (our evening walk). Any time in between they are usually eating or have specific ideas of what they want me to do with them 😅 (read me a book!, push me on the swing!, let's play hide and seek! come to my slumber party!, etc, etc.) It's ok for them to say they are bored. They always think of something, and it's good practice for them to think up their own activities. If they truly think of nothing, helping with chores is an option that will always be available to them. 🙂

@Bonny thank you 😊

I asked Ai and this is what it had to say.. Daily Routine for Stay-at-Home Mom with a 2-Year-Old & 4-Year-Old Morning Routine (7:00 AM - 9:00 AM) - 7:00 AM - Wake Up & Morning Routine: Brush teeth, get dressed, and make the beds (with help). - 7:30 AM - Breakfast & Clean-Up: Let them help set the table or stir food. - 8:00 AM - Independent Play / Sensory Bins: Soft blocks, puzzles, kinetic sand, or water play. - 8:30 AM - Morning Walk / Outside Play: A short walk, playground time, or backyard free play. --- Learning Block (9:00 AM - 10:30 AM) - Circle Time: Sing songs, discuss the weather, and read a short story. - Theme-Based Learning: - Monday: Letters & Words (alphabet activities, letter hunts) - Tuesday: Numbers & Counting (counting toys, simple math games) - Wednesday: Colors & Shapes (sorting games, coloring activities) - Thursday: Science & Nature (explore outside, water experiments) - Friday: Music & Movement (dance party, instrument play)

Creative Time (10:30 AM - 11:30 AM) - Art & Crafts: Painting, playdough, cutting and gluing. - Building Time: Blocks, LEGO Duplo, or cardboard forts. - Pretend Play: Play kitchen, dress-up, or storytelling with puppets. Lunch & Rest (11:30 AM - 2:00 PM) - 11:30 AM - Prepare Lunch Together: Let them wash veggies, stir, or set plates. - 12:00 PM - Lunch & Storytime: Read a book while they eat. - 12:30 PM - Quiet Time / Nap Time: - 2-year-old: Nap. - 4-year-old: Rest, listen to audiobooks, or quiet puzzles. Afternoon Adventure (2:00 PM - 3:30 PM) - Outdoor Play / Field Trip (Rotate Activities): - Monday: Local park or library storytime. - Tuesday: Grocery store scavenger hunt (find colors, count items). - Wednesday: Sensory play (water table, mud kitchen, bubble fun). - Thursday: Nature walk, bug hunt, or backyard obstacle course. - Friday: Playdate or indoor fun (children’s museum, trampoline park).

@Liz thank you 😊. I would have never thought to ask Ai, that's smart

Afternoon Learning & Play (3:30 PM - 5:00 PM) - STEM Play: Magnets, water pouring, stacking, sorting. - Cooking/Baking Together: Simple recipes like banana bread or smoothies. - Music & Dance: Singing, playing instruments, or movement games. - Storytime & Reflection: Books related to the day’s theme. Evening Routine (5:00 PM - 7:30 PM) - 5:00 PM - Dinner Prep & Clean-Up: Kids help wash veggies, set table. - 6:00 PM - Family Dinner & Chat: Talk about the best part of the day. - 6:30 PM - Calm Play: Puzzles, coloring, soft music. - 7:00 PM - Bath & Pajamas - 7:30 PM - Bedtime Story & Lights Out Extras - Special Weekly Themes: Dinosaurs, Space, Farm Life, Under the Sea. - Fine Motor Fun: Beading, lacing, stickers. - Gross Motor Fun: Yoga, scavenger hunts, balloon volleyball.

This is really nice.

Am I the only one who doesn't think it's realistic? I find certain things take way longer than they note, transition time is longer, and also when do you really fit in other things you need to do to keep the house afloat?

@Liat-Leah I was thinking the same thing. Every day is different for us. And some days we are just out here trying to survive.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that way! I mean good for anyone who can achieve so much! Maybe they also got help, but as Sahm w no assistance, yah ...not happening lol

@Liat-Leah 💯. It's heartbreaking how much pressure is put on stay at home moms. And everyone's situation and child is different. There isn't a cookie cutter model that's going to work for everyone. We need to give mom's more grace!

I take them out I’m never home as a sahm

All good inputs here, so I won’t be redundant. But I’ll say I feel okay not having continuous entertainment for my little one. We do plenty free play, go to parks and the museum, visit family, etc., along with all the around the house basics. But learning how to “be bored” or how to entertain herself is a skill I’m also trying to develop in my little one.

AI may have some nice ideas, but to date it has never actually supervised two toddlers for a day... much less for years, while also managing a household at the same time. If I wanted advice from someone with no experience as a stay at home parent, I could ask my husband (with equally ridiculous results) 🤣

Sounds like you inadvertently set the expectation that you will entertain them all day. I plan things with them and read etc but they independently play a lot too. You will have to let them adjust and change their mindset that you are responsible for their entertainment.

@Bonny the amazing thing about AI is that it gives you what you give it. If you type up your experience and have it take that into consideration, it will readjust its answer. 🙂

I come up with learning activities every weekend to stimulate the week. My daughters 2 1/2 so right now we’re prepping for more prek related learning. Turn taking, using scissors, matching games, arts and crafts, learning to hold writing utensils properly and tracing dotted lines, abc’s, numbers, shapes, reading to her. Having her help me prepare her meals (mixing, cracking an egg, etc). Summer times: park, pool, collecting flowers or rocks (make it a scavenger hunt like “only yellow flowers” or teach them to make daisy chains/crowns).

This isn’t to say the WHOLE day is going to be consumed by your constant providing of entertainment. They will independently play. They will want to watch some tv. They will start annoying you for more attention. Sometimes I randomly do a dance party to tire her out. Pretend play that we’re dinosaurs. Hide and seek. Just keep trying. Keeping off my phone helps me be more creative with her if that’s something you want to try but I won’t lie it’s hard in the beginning.

I barely read these but I don't feel like I do anything with my kids. They both still nap in the afternoons so that takes up a few hours but I really don't feel the need to entertain them. We go to swim lessons on Monday they do mothers day out on tue/Thursday and we go to bible study on Wed and honestly the transition from getting up and ready to the day covers then entire time before we leave for swim/study which with driving is about 2 hours then it's time for lunch some play time then nap. By the time they are up we are transitioning to dinner then probably bathing and bed. I do play a little, read books set them up to color while I clean let them play outside and sometimes we go to a park or to granny's but I also encourage a lot of independent play /together play. And we don't really do screens unless it's a cooking show with me after nap