How are we entertaining our toddlers?
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My partner works 12 hour shifts and it's hard sometimes days with a 17 month old and 10 week old at home 😅 we try get out the house in the mornings as much as possible, soft play, swimming, park, walk, we live in northern Ireland too so rains most of the time 😅 wet suit and wellies will come in handy, even if its just for a 15 mins walk. If we get out in the morning her nap is better during the early afternoon too which gives me some peace for a little bit with the baby. But we also paint, colour in, play dough, pasta/rice/oats/water in sensory bowl, outside toys in the garden (rocking horse, trampoline, water tray, sand) etc. Things like Duplo, wooden building blocks, stickle bricks, animals, car track and cars etc to entertain her on her own while I need to be with baby too. Story and song time Some TV time in the evening when I need to cook dinner etc x
I assume your little one doesn’t have siblings? I have 4 under 5 and to be honest they all play and entertain each other. But if you don’t have multiples, controversial opinion but I don’t think you need to always entertain them. Go about your day doing your chores and making food and involve them with little manageable things, even if it’s just holding something for you, stirring, or opening the door. Make that their play, and also you can get them out some toys and leave them to explore & play alone while you watch. When my first son was 1, I was pregnant with my 2nd and had no energy, I used to lay on the floor and watch him while he drove cars over me and he’d help me around the house. Don’t put too much stress on entertaining them, you already seem to do a lot in the week and everything is entertaining to a kid or can be. Let their imagination take over and I think you’ll find they have a good time exploring or making games out of household objects. X
Swimming, soft play (if you can handle how busy it gets - I hate it on weekends!), aquarium - ours you get an annual pass with your ticket so handy, sensory play like messy play or even just transferring oats/rice/pasta to other containers, or just braving it with a puddlesuit and go puddle jumping! A little tv won’t hurt, give yourself a break too mama xx