fun things to do with a 2 year old

deni100

good afternoon every one hope we are all well

my partner has a 2 year old who he has everyother weekend and he always feel bad for not doing anything fun with her most of the day she asked for her mummy and he feels he is a bad father which he isnt at all but we know what men are like:rolleyes:

so any ideas of what to do in derby/nottingham with a 2year old anything at all even things at home that are fun and that will keep her entertained

many thanks and look forward to your suggestions

Badger_Lady

My friend's 2-yr-old loves nothing more than running around in the park (particularly with swings etc). It's great! Even in the cold weather, we wrap him up in hat and gloves, and he gets stuck in.

It's fun to play with him (chasing him, kicking a ball around) when there are no other kids around, and he continues to entertain himself on the climbing frames while the grown-ups sit down and chill out.

Similarly, things like zoos / farms etc are great days out. We also sometimes go to an "art cafe" in town where he can have a go at making handprint photo frames as gifts for the family.

At home, he's slightly young for salt dough, but as long as he's supervised it's fine - he prefers telling us what to make, rather than making it himself! Similarly, crayons and paper, drawing pictures of his favourite things.

And just playing with toys in the living room - he loves playing "musical instruments", so that's good to do togther.

Do you know any other parents / children in the area? It's wonderful how entertained they can be by one another, giving Dad a break every so often!

deni100

thanks i was thinking like parks and maybe some painting/crayoning at home maybe halping bake some little cakes or something

mrcow

My two year old love playdough, painting, books (and books and books!), cooking, playing on the computer, playing with Barbies, lego, dolls, dancing....anything really that I'll join in with her.

She loves bikes, balls, going to the swings, she loves pond dipping at our local wildlife trust centre (which is usually free), have a look here:
http://www.attenboroughnaturecentre.co.uk/activities_images.htm

....feeding the ducks, going to the shops....anything!

She's probably asking after her mother as that's just what they do! When my daughter's Dad's at work, my two year old often comments about where is Daddy? Almost sometimes I think to double check that I still know where he is!

As Christmas is coming up.......there are lots of events on at the moment....including Santa's grotto etc. Take her there as she'll be awestruck!

mrcow

deni100 wrote: »

that are fun and that will keep her entertained

Don't mean to state the obvious either (sorry!) but I'm sure you're aware that a two year old will have a shorter attention span than older children and are also too little to keep themselves entertained for too long. Obviously they will sit down and look at books etc on their own, but not for too long before they need you to help stimulate them.

Children need to learn how to play, usually off siblings or their parents.

deni100

mrcow wrote: »

Don't mean to state the obvious either (sorry!) but I'm sure you're aware that a two year old will have a shorter attention span than older children and are also too little to keep themselves entertained for too long. Obviously they will sit down and look at books etc on their own, but not for too long before they need you to help stimulate them.

Children need to learn how to play, usually off siblings or their parents.

yes thankyou i am aware of this i wasnt planning on sitting her down to read/paint/colour by herself i like my cream walls lol

Jude123

Some other things to do are cooking - as she is quite young then these cake kits are quite good as they don't take too long as was said above their attention span is quite short! or Pizza making then can eat the results!

Swimming or indoor play centres always burn off some energy in the winter.

Good luck!

freyasmum

My daughter loves her dolls (or babies ). I have an extra rolls of wall paper from doing her room... she loves drawing on the back of it with her pencils (big chunky ones - easier for her to hold) and also likes eating the pencils :eek:

I gave her some cookie dough when I was making them and she just sat and ate it all

She loves getting out and about and playing on the swings. Are there any parks with ponds near you? She loves to see the ducks and swans being fed (although she just eats the bread, lol)

I will probably be shot down for this but she absolutely adores the jungle book and the singing kettle so sometimes I let her watch those dvds. I have tried her with other ones, but those seem to be her favourites. So much so that when I dropped her off this morning, my mum put it on (to distract her) and when I asked her for a kiss, she begrudgingly gave me one but didn't take her eyes of the tv!! That will need to be stopped!

She also loves singing and dancing and, as others have said, just anything that I will join in with.

Lx

howskint?

Have you been to Markeaton Park in Derby - lots of space to run around. There's a farm next door too that has lots of animals.

Allestree park has got a small animals section - rabbits, ducks etc to feed.

Happy hens at Etwall costs a pound to get in - under 2's are free I think. Lots of animals to feed, free bouncy castle somme activities. You can even collect your own eggs. Works out cheaper to collect own than buy them in the shop.

There are also quite a few good garden centres in the area. I often take my two sons to look at the fish and animals. And at this time of year the xmas decorations.

At home theres nothing my 2 love more than playing in a cardboard box!

Hope that helps!

BrandNewDay

Most towns have an indoor soft play place full of ball pits and chutes and tunnels and stuff to climb about.

There are also a lot of community farms where they can see and feed various animals.

Visiting a place like that, followed by a trip to MacDonald's (they have fruit and milk with their Happy Meals, now) is probably most kids' idea of The Perfect Day.

BrandNewDay

Also, if you live in a town that has an outdoor market (maybe a Christmas market?) she might really like that. Has your OH looked into a backpack carrier? They're really good for taking kids to fayres and other outdoor events.