How do you entertain a 5yr girl & 18mth boy at home for a wk when all they do is whine and moan?
Entertaining September 5th, 2008
Shaz asked:
My 5yr old will be on holiday next week and I desperately need some ideas on entertaining her and my 18mth old son together. Because of their age difference my daughter cannot always do what she wants to do (eg: painting) as her bro constantly interrupts her and messes her work. This gets her very annoyed and we land up having to pack away which leads to tantrums and tears. I am home alone with the kids and we do not have transport to get to play centres/parks. It’s too cold to let them play outside so we’re stuck indoors! HELP!!!
My 5yr old will be on holiday next week and I desperately need some ideas on entertaining her and my 18mth old son together. Because of their age difference my daughter cannot always do what she wants to do (eg: painting) as her bro constantly interrupts her and messes her work. This gets her very annoyed and we land up having to pack away which leads to tantrums and tears. I am home alone with the kids and we do not have transport to get to play centres/parks. It’s too cold to let them play outside so we’re stuck indoors! HELP!!!
September 5th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
my daughter is 5 and my son 13 every weekend i am all alone with them at the house, but for me it is easy my daughter loves playing mommy so she takes little bro and pretends he is her son. that way they play for hours on end and my son loves the attention he is getting from his sister.
why don’t you play with your son and his cars and trucks while your daughter paints in a other room? let her entertain herself and you keep him busy. once he is asleep spend time with your daughter
September 7th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
You need a written schedule. A poster on the wall or fridge, with activities planned. i.e.
10 am - snack
10:30 - story time
11:00 - block play
12:00 - lunch
etc etc.
Move them along from activity to activity. Usually whining and fussing is due to boredom.
Maybe plan painting time for your older when the younger is napping, then she won’t get interrupted.
Congrats on being home with them. It’s a gift many mother’s don’t get to experience. I know it’s not easy (I’m home with 3), but it’s the best think you can do with them.
September 8th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
ok.
1. so why don’t you make them watch some cartoon chanels.
2. do some fun cooking with them like make some cookies where you daughter can do big jobes like rolling out and you can do the baking and then they both can decorate it and have a inside picnic.
3.the age difference is a problem so why don’t you keep them both in different rooms and you can stay with you son as he is small and your daughter can do paiting etc.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
You could always find fun and interesting things for your 5 year old to do independently so that you can concentrate more on your 18month old who needs more attention. Let your 5 year old paint, or put together a scavenger hunt in the house for her while you entertain your 18 month old. You could throw a “pool party” in the bath tub for both of them. Give them lots of bath toys that they can both play with. Pretend to go camping. Help them build a fort out of chairs and blankets. Let them pick out stories for you to read to them. Let your 5 year old write or pick out some songs to sing. You could give the 18month old a pot or pan and a wooden spoon as an improvisational instrument so that he can play along.
September 9th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I can give you hints on what works for me. My kids were spaced and so are my grandkids, but it really works great once you have a system.
The 5 year old is in the age where she is a helper and your 18 month old is in ange where they like attention, especially from the BIG SISTER.
Let her know that she is the Big Sister and that he copies everything that she does and just loves her to pieces that is why he is bugging her. This she will understand.
Then ask her if she thinks that she can help you with him and maybe the two of you can come up with enough ideas of things to do to keep him occupied and you two (buddy system) can work together to occupy him. She will come up with a ton of things that you and me wouldn’t even think of!!
Then, when he is asleep, ask her if she would like to do her painting before hewakes up or if she would like to help you.
Give her a choice as to how she would like to spend her ‘free’ time.
They can also help you clean the house!! Believe it or not, they like to help mom, you just have to make a game of it and realize that things aren’t going to be perfect.
Give the 18 month old a clothes basket and hand him things to put in the basket, Have the 5 year old take things that are in the wrong place and at least get them put into the right room.
Hide something in the room that the 5 year old has to find….then she gets a treat when he is sleeping.
You and your daughter can wash dishes while your son plays with cars on the floor.
Take paper bags and draw masks or a suit of armor and let their imaginations run wild. The 5 year old will come up with something and the 18 month old will just run around the house because they like the noise and the idea of something new on their little bodies.
Buy two little rakes at the dollar store and get outside and wnjoy the weather. The 5 year old can help to rake around shrubs and trees and the 18 month old will ‘help’ in his own little fashion.
No matter how you look at it, all that counts is that they are helping mommy…..
September 10th, 2008 at 7:34 am
I would encourage you to take them outside regardless from cold. Just bundle them up. The fresh air does wonders to a whining child. Take a stroller for the little one and walk around your house for at least 45 min. twice a day.