I read lots of preschooler blogs to get ideas of stuff to do> I am not the most creative/arty person in the world but blogs like let the children play, irresistible ideas for play based learning, simple kids etc have some awesome ideas and inspiration on them for things to do and read and play etc. They all have links to other blogs too so the list goes on and on and I usually find one thing a day to do on them!
It is really tough getting through and I am finding now that I need to put a routine of sorts in place to keep them in check as they are relatively happy to play independently but also need some more structured stuff as well.
Mate! I only just saw your reply, I cant help laughing when I read about the glitter, I used to have a huge glue/glitter phobia, hated sticky things for a long time, I feel your pain with that one, its a love/hate relationship with me with glitter/glue.
Hey once a week at Carlingford Court sounds fab mate, mornings are best for us if thats ok with you. Hubby also wants me to ask you about the Territory! we are going to be doing serious carshopping. Will pm you my home no mate, as my mobile is caput I need a new one.
Awesome ideas here!
I just reckon that having a certain outing planned for each day is important, coz just one day at home can make you feel like you're in a rut.
Thought of some easy things we do to mix it up here also. Generally I try to stock up on some supplies at the $2 shop for craft.
The girls love using paintbrushes to paint with water outside.
They also like to clean the outside setting/house/dog with spray bottles of water and sponges.
Painting outside with sponges/leaves/sticks/gumnuts that we have collected from a walk/play at the park.
Picnic in the front/back yard.
Blowing/chasing bubbles.
Set up some water buckets, with containers and some food dye to play with/measure.
Making cubbies with doona's/blankets etc.
We play cafes at home too and they take orders etc (service is not that great, lol).
Baking once a week (I have to be really patient with this one) but the kids love makign cupcakes, biscuits and decorating stuff. (Generally before we clean the floors here).
I try to write a list of places to visit - different parks, outings to remind myself of things to do!!!
I promise I'm not trying to hijack this thread but I got on BB this afternoon in search for exactly the same thing as you Epacris! You all sound like you've got some great ideas and routines going on but many seem as though they are for a little bit older kids (???) and I would love to pick your brains about what you did when they were smaller, if that's OK?
My DD has just turned 1 and after several pretty traumatic (for both of us) attempts at putting her into care in the past 7 months (first family day care then childcare centre) we've decided to give up for a year or two and accept that we're all going to be a lot less stressed if I stay at home with her. My concerns are that she has outgrown some of her baby routine and most of her toys and usual activities, and I'm at a loss as to how to keep us both relatively sane and happy through this time! I would like to get us into a flexible routine but atm I am really fumbling and end up putting her in front of the TV with her toys for half the day and even she is getting sick of this!
She's also becoming more and more clingy and wants to be with me virtually everywhere... however she hasn't yet managed to crawl or walk which makes her incredibly frustrated. She can 'walk' if she holds my hands everywhere which of course she wants to do all of the time
My DH travels a lot too so although he's great when he's here, he works 6 days/week when he's in town and is away about 4 months of the year in business travel.
We have a mum's group but the days vary each week to try and fit in with everyone's work schedules so we can usually only make it once a fortnight as it conflicts with weekend activities or swimming etc. I would love to start going to the gym a few times a week for me but am wary of putting her in the creche there as she is SO clingy and seems to have such huge separation anxiety atm.
Also, fyi if it helps... these are the bits of our day that are "routine" so to speak: She has 2 bottles a day. The first is as soon as she wakes up at around 6:30am as she still cries for it on waking (this makes it hard as far as meal routines go because she usually won't eat anything else until 8am and even then she will only pick at say half a piece of toast). The second bottle is before she goes to bed at night. She also still has 2 naps.. the first one is about 9:30am and the second about 2pm. They last for anywhere from 1 - 2 hours so can make getting out of the house tricky I find. We usually do bath around 4:30 or 5pm and her dinner at about 5:30 or 6pm, but again when her naps vary quite a lot these times can get thrown out the window! One of the hardest things is her bedtime... she just doesn't seem tired before 8 or 8:30pm and if we put her to bed earlier she just screams herself until she's soaked in sweat and this could go on for half an hour. We decided long ago it was more peaceful to go with a later bedtime when she doesn't fight it and drops off to sleep usually pretty quickly and quietly. BUT it means DH and I often don't eat dinner til 8:30pm and of course there's not much time to relax in the evening with her up so long.
Would really appreciate your thoughts and suggestions on how to be a better SAHM to her... like Epacris I don't want to be mother of the year but good enough would be great for us I think! Thanks
Last edited by Amber4; February 2nd, 2011 at 03:51 PM.
I'm slack - I don't really do anything. I didn't know you had to... Well we go out and do things sometimes - let DS run off some energy.
The best SAHM is one who isn't crazy and hasn't killed her kids. Right?
lol I agree with you MadB... my daily mantra these days is 'lower your expectations' (will have to now add to it "and I haven't killed my child today so I'm doing OK!") But at the same time I know I do better (as in emotionally feel a lot better) when I have a framework in mind and some ideas of what to do, even if I apply them flexibly and let them go on days when I want to, iykwim? My current situation seems to revolve around the fact that I spent the majority of her first year sneaking away to the computer whenever duty called as I was still working (from home half the time) 4 days a week. So I have used the TV far too often for my liking to keep her entertained. I'm fine with her having an hour or two here and there and to be honest, half days of it when I'm struggling!, but I would just like to provide more of a balance I guess and feel like I'm not quite so all over the shop as far as our daily activities go.
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But at the same time I know I do better (as in emotionally feel a lot better) when I have a framework in mind and some ideas of what to do, even if I apply them flexibly and let them go on days when I want to, iykwim? My current situation seems to revolve around the fact that I spent the majority of her first year sneaking away to the computer whenever duty called as I was still working (from home half the time) 4 days a week. So I have used the TV far too often for my liking to keep her entertained. I'm fine with her having an hour or two here and there and to be honest, half days of it when I'm struggling!, but I would just like to provide more of a balance I guess and feel like I'm not quite so all over the shop as far as our daily activities go.
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