How to entertain a 2 year old?

idea

Hello,

I have recently stopped working full time and am now looking after my two year old for two days a week - she goes to nursery the other three days.

I have just realised that work is much easier.....as my dd has a five minute attention span! Can anyone suggest some things that we can do that won't cost lots of money. After working all the time, I just haven't really got a clue where to start.

This is going to sound awful, but I am stuggling to fill the day with things for her to do and I really don't want her to watch TV all the time.

Thank you for your help!

jamespir

park playdough crayons painting

building_with_lego

Books, jigsaws, dance to music, let her "help" with the hoovering etc. Out to the park to meet friends, playgroups, soft play places. (It's occurred to me that having been working full time maybe you don't have many friends with similarly- aged kids? these are all great places to get some!) The library usually has sing and story times for littlies, maybe some SureStart groups depending on your area.

I always try to get out of the house every day to have a real conversation with a grown up! It's not such a huge deal now that mine are getting older (youngest almost 4) but *really* was when they were younger!

CH27

Walk to the park.
Plant seeds & flowers & watch them grow.
Bake biscuits & cakes
Do jigsaws
Read books
Go to the library. Some have children's hour.
Join the local play group.

M_A_R_I_E

Painting, drawing, play doh, puzzles, reading.

We go playgroup one morning and songtime at the library another morning. Swimming, playpark, soft play centres, taking dolly for a walk in pram to shop, local farm.

emmylou83_2

How about going swimming one day a week, go before lunch, then have a picnic in a local park after? Will tire her out for sure! Have you tried looking on websites such as Netmums for ideas? What area are you? some have lots of Surestart groups which i have found a Godsend! x

idea

Thank you everyone - i'm moving back to friends at the end of this month, so will be able to meet up with mummies and children of a similar age - I am really hoping that it will make a difference. I am struggling as I don't have any friends here whatsoever.

The library is at the bottom of the road - that's where i'll be going too, thank you! I've just had a horrible day and I should have thought to take dd there. What an idiot!

In some respects it might just be that as I normally spend time with both her and my husband i'm a bit scared of going out with her on my own....how rubbish does that sound.

Now off to pull myself together!

Emmarillo

It doesn't sound rubbish at all. Stay-at-home motherhood is quite daunting, but very rewarding. I definitely think going out to work is an easier option - you can go to the toilet on your own!

Ditto what everyone said about the park, swimming, cooking etc and especially the library. You'll probably see the same faces during the sessions and you'll be amazed how quickly you find friends.

dondo

We (well mostly my wife) took our daughter (who was about 2 at the time) to Tumbletots and Jo Jingles when my wife was on maternity leave and daughter was only going to nursery 2 days a week as opposed to 5 before her wee brother arrived. She got bored of Jo Jingles after a while but loved Tumbletots (it's lots of climbing, balancing, co-ordination etc) and still goes now at weekends (as does my son) and both get a lot out of it. So maybe worth seeing if there's a class near you http://www.tumbletots.com/

All the other suggestions are excellent too.

Racheldevon

Look into your local sure start children's centre - completely free services and activities for parents/carers to do with their children (from birth to 5 years). Have a look online on the sure start website to find your nearest centre- ever community has access to one.

Humphrey10

Building toys and bricks. Even if your DD is too small to build things her own, she can choose bricks for you to use and tell you what to build. And knocking towers down is always fun!