I'm curious to now what other peoples routines are..
We wake, bum change, breakfast and have a play.
I do some household chores while bub watches some tv or entertains himself.
morning tea. nap
lunch.
Play. reading books. errands. maybe a trip to the park.
bath. dinner bed.
(and many more bum changes)
How do you keep your child happy all the time and still have time for yourself - and how do you know that you're spending enough time with your child..
I think you've got the key in the beginning - when you do household chores, bub entertains himself. We began this early on and DD is so content playing by herself, and has quite the imagination. I play with her lots, but I can get dinner in, or bake something, or browse BB....lol
We have a rough routine, but it's basically that we try to have mealtimes around the same time. We get up, breakfast, dressed, she plays while I get myself organised for the day, go for a walk, come back, play outside, lunch. The afternoon always varies (she doesn't nap) and then dinner is always at 6. She even asks for it now, even if she doesn't eat anything. After dinner its a little bit of play while DH and I eat and clean up, then bath, bottle, story and bed by 8.30.
I always used to worry (and still do sometimes) that I don't spend enough time actively playing with DD..but she is healthy and happy and learning new things all the time, so I figure I must be doing alright!
Once she wakes up we get dressed, have brekky, then we take the dog for a walk for 45 mins-1 hour. Sometimes we'll stop off at the park on the way home and she can have a play in the playground, or if we don't do that I'll let her out of the pram and she can walk on her own for a little bit. She loves picking up sticks and leaves, pointing out flowers etc, because I'm talking to her and sometimes holding her hand I figure that is 'play' time with her.
Once we get home if there's washing to hang out we go do that, then have morning tea. After morning tea play time before her nap at about 11.30/12. We go outside if the weather is nice enough, or play inside with some balls and other toys or read books.
After her sleep we have lunch then more play time, or go up the street to do some jobs. Reading more books, then start the dinner/bath/bed routine and she helps pick up all her toys/books.
In all that I try and do some other housework too..lol. She likes 'helping' with the washing..meaning throwing them out of the basket and onto the floor for me, and hangs around in the bathroom while I clean it (while throwing the plug into the bath every 30 seconds!).
I've recently made some playdough for her and we have done finger painting before. Usually I go by the 'rule' that if she is happy playing by herself then I'll leave her. I'm never too far away so if she wants/needs me I'm right there.
ETA: don't feel you should be spending *all* your time entertaining bub, it is a good life skill for them to learn how to entertain themselves and play alone. And means you can get things done without worrying that they are on their own.
It sounds as though you have interaction with her all day. How does one find sooo many activities. DS has just started walking and if I was to let him out he'd completely just run off and refuse to get in the pram and the tantrums would begin.
I've ordered a harness to keep him in arms reach.
Its hard to explain. It's never really average. If he gets cranky he'll go to from 0-100 and just crack it
I'm at the stage where I don't want to go out or even interact as much in fear of a tantrum. And I don't want that! I want to have fun with him
You're routine
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