What do you all do with your kiddos during the day?

[helene1108]

Esp those SAHM's. It's only 10:00 am and so far I've had them play in the ball pit, watch Super Why (which totally rocks...thanks for letting me in on that!), play Flying Ariel Mermaid vs Superman, helped me clean up dishes from breakfast and they are now making cereal necklaces. And it's only 10:00am!!!

Don't you have days where you simply run out of ideas (and energy) to keep up with them? The babies are easy to entertain b/c everything amazes them! But Cole and Bella have very short attention spans and each activity lasts for only a short time.

Anyone have arts/crafts ideas they wanna share? Or outdoor/indoor activities that help burn extra energy?? I have 8 more hours until DH is home from work....not that I'm counting or anything...LOL

[MomtoA&S]

Well yesterday was a good example because we were literally in the house all day because of crappy weather. On those days I let them watch Curious George and Sesame Street. So the tv was on from 8-10am and I got some laundry done.

I brought out their aquadoodle and that keeps them busy for about 20 minutes. Then we had a memory game that they got for Christmas but wasn't opening until a rainy day. That was great, until they just wanted to pick them up and put them down over and over and over....you get me.

Once lunch is over, they have the same routine every day no matter what. They always go together into the playroom and put their Thomas laptops on top of the toy box and stand next to each other playing those. They seriously could play those for an hour at a time.

We read books, color, playdough, attempt to go upstairs for a nap (almost always unsuccessful these days), play with their train set. Actually some days they play so well together that they don't even know I'm there and I almost get bored! Weird, I know.

[helene1108]

Jen, we managed to get through the day but of course not without drama...

Thanks for sharing what your typical day is like!!! I had forgotten we had some playdough so I may break that out next time I run out of ideas!

[hutile]

My 4 year old likes to go to this website (suggested by someone here) http://www.starfall.com/. It's great and it's safe. Lots of preschool works, words etc...

We build a fort under the table, help fold/put away towels, gather the laundry baskets from the rooms. Make thier beds, which sometimes takes forever because they think they have to jump on the bed to get the lumps out.
Today we made valentines to send out to friends and family this weekend.

[mrsljb]

We do alot of different things...

Sometimes we watch tv/movies, or I'll set up a train set for them on the train table...they could play with that for hours, they love their magnadoodles that they got for Christmas and will sit on the couch or floor and draw on them. Coloring and playdoh I set them up with at the table when I need to get some things done in the kitchen.

We just started playing Hi Ho Cherrio and they do pretty well at it...I am thinking about taking out Candyland next and seeing how they do with that.

My DD will play with them in the afternoon alot, and she's the fort builder...or they like to turn on her radio and dance in her room with her.

[Deedah]

Today we will go out to the Library or Aquarium or something. I like to take them out places.I think it is much easier and more fun. Shopping, we do play doh, coloring, games like elefun, lucky ducks, memmory, fishing game,etc... tv time, playroom time, dress up, clean up with mama time. Then for days stuck in the house I have a whole load of crafts in the playroom closet. Plate painting, tea set painting, foam crafts, stamping sets, food markers we can color marshmallows and cookies with edible markers, sand art kits, painting etc....We put on the radio and dance, their favorite is "Clumbsy" by Fergie:snicker: they like to sing that one and "Black horse and the cherry tree":snicker: We visit friends for play dates and we visit grandma and have picnics at Daddy's office for lunch time now that he is close by.

[loganandnoah'smama]

Helene,
My two are 5 and I totally run out of things for them also. I do all the things the other Mom's talk about in here but my boys don't stick with anything forever either. Now that they are older I let them do a lot of painting but sometimes one of them won't want to paint while the other one sticks with it. The one not painting causes trouble--you get the picture. I have never found anything that will get out all the energy in the house. We always need outdoor time. Yesterday all the snow was melting and it really was too much of a mess to go outside. By evening I was at my witts end. They always have more energy than Mom and Dad! We play games and they are really good at cards. They learned the Thomas Celebration card game first and play UNO and Hit the Deck. Keep that in mind for when they get older. It's an excellent game. But the Thomas game we got when they were three and they have always loved it. Good Luck!! Spring is on the way. There is nothing better for us than to get outside. Outdoor day trips are the best (museum, zoo, lake, river, anywhere there can be noise and running around and no one cares).

[Larkynsmommy]

My boys love to take blankets and build "clubhouses, forts, etc. They spread them between the love seat and barstools. I always used a crad table when i was little. They make doors, beds. That keeps them busy for some time.

Aquadoodles are good. Even though it is messy, they enjoy play-doh.

I have one of those rugs that you un-roll for Hot Wheels, they will play with that for a good while.

It is hard when they can't play outside. I gave them a spray bottle of water and their sister spiked their hair.

I run out of ideas too.

[helene1108]

Okay, so I made a list of all the ideas you all wrote that I haven't tried yet! Thank you so much! Thankfully the weather is getting a tad warmer and the sun has finally come out so I'm able to get them out of the house, which really helps.

I was wondering about the Thomas Celebration Game and I'm glad it was mentioned. Cole saw it in on an online catalogue and he was asking about it! I may order it and surprise him with it!