OS with young kids - tips & advice

Broomstick

Hiya,

Something that I found really useful and took no time at all was to start a treats/surprise/'new' things box (or shelf). Every time I came across something that looked as if it might have play or interest value, like a lovely little box or tin, or a friend's donation of a small toy or book they were getting rid of, or some useful pictures to cut out or whatever - basically interesting freebies - I'd pop them in the box and over time I had a good range of things to pull out when there was the need to find something new to play with or to distract one child while the other was needing me. We kept that going for years and it was very helpful as a single parent on a low income.

As they got older, I also saved anything and everything that might be useful for scrap modelling and saved up for good glue and sellotape so we always had it available. The children were given small versions of real tools to do woodwork one Xmas so that they could saw and hammer wood offcuts as well. Whenever, they hankered after a toy they'd seen elsewhere, I'd say 'fine, why don't you make that yourselves' and they usually gave it a go. Harry Potter's lego Hogwarts first appeared on the scene when they were of primary ages and together they spent weeks and weeks building it using saved boxes and scrap together with old fashioned clothes pegs to make all the characters. They did lots like that together and didn't feel they were losing out at all. Their dexterity and abilities to make and problem solve creatively were brilliant. It's a good precursor to learning the idea of making do and mending as well and often useful in avoiding buying yet more plastic.

Bx
P.S. I also tried to keep a small stash of treats for myself when I needed a boost as well!

buildersdaughter

Sounds really good!
Stock in the slow cooker is a good use of electricity but (at the risk of stating the obvious) boil up first, and unless using immediately, boil up after.
Time to drag out again my 'freezer drawer': I keep a drawer (actually now a recycled lidded bucket) in the freezer. In go bones, chicken carcasses, onion peeling, leek ends, tough celery stalks, parsley stalks etc. I then do a big stock pot boil up, reduce the stock until very thick, then freeze in small portions. I think good stock is the secret to making ordinary meals special.

Wrinkly / soft fruit can also be poached in juice, with some dried fruit as well, makes a lovely 'compote' for yoghourt or porridge.

Bluegreen143

Broomstick what excellent advice! I usually give those bits and bobs with play value out when I find them, then they eventually get chucked out after a while. How much better to have a special box to keep random & new stuff in and bring it out when you need a moment. Great idea for making art more thrifty too. I used to do stuff like that but fell out of the habit as he has masses of art supplies now (I get my sister to get art supplies each Christmas rather than buying more toys!) but it is more fun using random scrappy stuff too

And thanks too buildersdaughter and good point re boiling up stock.

Good day today. I’m at 14k steps also made chicken soup with most of the stock and chicken & veg risotto for dinner with the rest. Still have enough chicken for a generous family meal (pasta or curry). So that’s not at all bad, the chicken has done three family meals, two sandwiches for husband’s lunches and soup We’ve also almost finished painting the living room now and husband is going to finish tomorrow while I’m at a yoga class.

Got a fright at dinner, went for some of the expensive Maldon sea salt which was out on the table only to find a dead spider in it! I’m not a fan of spiders at all either lesson learned to keep it in a lidded tub from now on :rotfl:

Plan for tomorrow:

B - porridge and fruit
L - chicken soup and bread
S - oatcakes/crackers with cheese, veg sticks
D - chicken pasta

After nursery we are meant to be meeting friends at a Gaelic play session (we don’t speak it but hoping to learn) and then go to soft play but there is a snow warning so not sure if our plans will go ahead. We will see! Would be a shame to miss out but on the plus side will save a fortune for the parking and soft play entry. I do have a yoga class to try out in the evening which I’m looking forward to. Also plan to get all the clothes putting away done tomorrow during Bambi’s nap & get some cleaning done upstairs (bedsheets changed etc). May be a bit ambitious 😅

Bluegreen143

It won’t let me edit, but it’s actually 16k steps :rotfl: I feel it’s important to point that out

Bluegreen143

Snow not turned up and it’s warmed up so looks like we will be going out this afternoon. I’ll make sure I take snacks for the kids to avoid buying at softplay but there will be some spends for parking and softplay entry. Will sit down this week and make a proper February budget for when Red (my husband) gets paid at the end of the month.

So far had a productive morning and changed all the beds, hoovered upstairs, cleaned the upstairs bathroom and put away most of the clean clothes for the week (just got the kids to do as they go in Bambi’s room and she’s asleep in it).

Having a wee cake & tea thing for a few friends on Thursday as one of them is approaching her due date (not a formal baby shower but just a little surprise for her with our group of close friends). Instead of buying decorations I’ve dug out coloured paper from Monkey’s art trolley and made bunting and paper chains which look really nice and didn’t cost a penny. Hoping we have a pack of balloons somewhere leftover from the kids birthdays.

Everyone is bringing some sandwiches, crisps, cake and different teas and I’m going to bake (probably brownies and scones) and do some homemade hummus and veg sticks and maybe get some strawberries in. Will get some cream today I think to culture up into creme fraiche as there isn’t loads left in the jar in the fridge and it would be nice with the scones. So should be a really nice evening at very little expense 🙂

Katiehound

No children experience here (well, not at home!) but sounds like you have your hands full. Hope the tea party goes well.

I was just going to comment on house cleaning supplies and hoped that you were aware of all the old basics which come in much cheaper than the 'spray for this' and the 'cream for that'
Lots of ideas on this website:
https://www.dri-pak.co.uk/

A friend 'works' at a mother & toddler group and it is amazing all the 'junk' stuff that gets used. I'm told glueing pretty much anything is very popular as many parents don't like messy activities! Whenever I see her I pass over the coloured paper (often cataloges/ garden piccies) scraps of colourful fabric, fur fabric... you name it- it's used.
If you don't mind noise -shakers of different containers and different fillings are also a favourite.

Bluegreen143

Thank you Katiehound, that website looks great for tips! I try to avoid using various sprays etc as I don’t like them around the children. But I don’t always know what to use instead (I do find washing up liquid cleans most things right enough!). I’ll enjoy perusing that site for some more tips.

I’m happy to do messy activities at home, we have one of those three tier kitchen storage trolleys filled with paint, glue, stampers, colouring pencils, pens, stickers, sequins etc etc plus a bunch of various colours of paper and card. It’s such a good idea to save bits and bobs to add to it

Oooooh, a good cheap kid entertainment tip of my own - I make my own playdough (scented and coloured) for pennies.

COOKED PLAYDOUGH RECIPE
2 cups plain flour
1 cup salt
2 cups water
2tsp cream of tartar
1tbsp veg oil
Food colouring (I use the tip of a spoon of gel colour)
A few drops of essential oil for scent (if wanted)

Mix it all together, adding the water to the dry ingredients slowly - I do it in the kitchen aid as it likes to go lumpy when done by hand :rotfl:

Stick in a saucepan and heat gently, stirring (this makes your arm ache!) til it’s all cooked and comes together in a ball. Let cool and knead til no longer sticky. Keeps for months if you are vigilant about playing on a clean surface and then putting in an airtight container right after use. If it gets salt crystals after storage just knead them back in.

Sometimes I add glitter or I give Monkey a tub of oats to sprinkle on and knead in.

Bluegreen143

Another good cheap idea for entertaining small kids at home:

COLOURED SENSORY RICE
1 cup of cheap white rice
1tbsp vinegar
Food colouring

Put the rice and vinegar in a food bag and shake to mix, then add food colouring and keep shaking and kneading the bag til you get your desired effect.

Spread out on a tray and leave a few hours til dry. The colouring doesn’t come off on their hands I don’t find. Great for using with scoops and funnels or you can dye it to match a theme (we have orange and black we made for Halloween and put in a tub with plastic spiders and eyeballs).

Bluegreen143

Thought I’d do a wee daily round up:

Meals: on plan except we were rushed this morning and had peanut butter & mashed banana on toast instead of porridge. Red was home from work before 4 (hurray!) so made us a lovely chicken pasta and some homemade garlic & rosemary focaccia - yum!

Exercise: over 16k steps today & a yoga class

Spending: £13 (rounded up to nearest £). £5 parking and £8 softplay entry for the two kids. But also about to transfer £40 to pay towards a friend’s hen do later on this year

Batch cooking/food prep: nothing yet but about to go and make some overnight oats

Tomorrow’s meal plan:

B: overnight oats
L: leftover chicken pasta
S: toast & avocado
butternut & bean stew with rice

Planning to do some cleaning of the downstairs tomorrow (kitchen deep clean, mop floor & clean bathroom) and not sure whether we are meeting friends in the afternoon or what we are doing.

buildersdaughter

I made exactly this playdough recipe last week for our grandson. I would add that if you can't get cream of tartar (it's less of a 'staple' than it used to be) then the dough is OK without it - it is a bit less silky and doesn't keep quite as well.
And this is a great bubble mix:
½ cup (125 ml.) washing up liquid
2 tablespoons (30ml) glycerine
1 tablespoon (15 ml.) cooking oil
Add enough water to make 1 cup (250 ml.)
The oil and glycerine add colour and stability so it's better than just detergent. Not the right time of year to send them outside, but tuck it away until it is!