Consider looking into your local library activities! I have found libraries make a lot of fun activities available to young children regularly for free!
I have an almost 3 year old, and I often take her to classes like swimming, gym or music. It is a bit expensive, especially the gym, but it is so worth it for me to have a weekly thing to do. Another great place to take them is the library. They often have nice children areas and activities for them, especially in the bigger libraries if you have access. And I have no idea if there is something similar around you, but in the Netherlands we can get a museum card for 70 euros a year, and you can go to very child friendly museums for free. Also things like dance activities for children in the botanical garden and stuff like that was free with that card. I don’t know if any of that is useful for you, but maybe some ideas to look into
Toddlers need to move they are very active...also when he is home put out some toys for the week put other toys away then rotate every other week because toddlers get bored. Figure out what type of toys he is interested in the most..is it cars, trains, is it light up noisy toys ..ect..do you have a routine for him at homedays? Run his day like a nursery...breakfast ..toy time ..tv show...snack ..nap ..outside time...ect. maybe buy him a ball pit or a slide for your yard. Also if its raining let him play in his rainboots and jump in puddles..never worry about the house..i tell people its lived in...
Could you visit a place with lots of stairs for him to go up? My kids loved that. For the kitchen, could you assign a drawer for him to get in, so that he can join you in the kitchen?
Do you have a local toy library that you could subscribe to? They are good for borrowing big toys like balance beams, todler climbing frames, and th8ngs like that.
I really recommend teaching at least a couple of signs, it helps a lot! My toddler can show all done, more, milk and food and it really makes a difference communicationwise.
I feel like Orin is at the most difficult age as far as they can do a lot but communication is still a bit tricky and their brain isn’t developed enough for them to understand and listen for dangerous situations. I felt like every month after my toddler turned 2 he became easier to manage bit by bit. I’m in Australia so can’t give any specific recommendations for activities, but it is worth looking into anything where you can get a yearly pass that is closeby. It might mean just getting yourself a pass since he is so little. I am going to get passes for our local aquarium as a Christmas present for my boys. We also have zoos nearby and museums that offer passes, where you basically have to go twice or three times to get your money’s worth.
At this age my Kids loved a climing frame and balance bike etc inside. They need to move and are not really happy just sitting there and playing with toys. And my Kids loved to go to the forest, picking up sticks, climb on rocks and fallen trees
I have a 19 month old who is a really early speaker (baby signs from 9 months, small sentences from 14months and can count to 30 now etc) and he still has crazy tantrums 😭 not because he cant communicate but because he does not like the word no haha. Oh and we go to the library a lot. That is our free day out! We take 20 books out each week, they have drawing, games etc and singing sessions.
Can we please stop saying they are free hours they are funded hours. The nursery are only getting a small amount per hour so parents arw having to top up on top of that and this confusing people because people are saying they are free hours. When infact its funded hours. If the nurseries had to survice on only the money from the Government they would never do it. It doesnt even cover the staffs wages let alone everything else. Please think about this before you say free hours because they arent.
wow, what a frustrating system. here in quebec the govt provides enough funding that the parents only pay $180 per month for full time daycare. it's entirely possible, it's infuriating that govts wont be more supportive.
Nah, just because you're feeling bitter, please don't try and police everyone else into maximising the bitter sentiment as well. You know full well what Bryony means, and this like, attempted incitement of constant outrage is actually just really draining and I have no respect for it.
Depends where you are- some places aren’t charging additional on top. And technically they’re only part-funded if people are topping up and you want to be pedantic about it.
With mine, I do 10 mins clean at the end of the day. at the moment, I'm getting over covid, and I really can't be bothered. Fun fact I'm a cleaner in a school we've just had the school holidays and getting back into the thing of getting up at 5 to be in work for 6 is hard.
My kid is coming up two and we're in a similar predicament with the play grounds - shes a good climber but the bigger playgrounds just have so many sheer drops 😵
Our nursery is cheap as they get older we get 15 funded hours and pay one day! They definitely aren’t free hours but I do get what you mean! It gets harder when their older look up ideas as when their off for half term
Oh lol what i would give to dial back to those years as teenage/early 20's were a challenge and a worry now into 30's it brings new worries as a mum....it is a different worry/concern/challange but i guess we sugn up when we make decision to have children.
Do your libraries offer play areas and children's programing? Here is the states they do, and they are amazing and free. Some libraries even have kits and toys you can check out and take home for a week or two.
I think scheduling particular chores is a great idea! I do that, I set up repeating tasks for them on Google Calendar and then they pop up on my phone and I can "Mark as complete" when I've done them. I find it helps mostly because it takes away some of the mental load of thinking what needs to be done and when! Not that it makes it perfect, we do also now have a cleaner once a fortnight for just the bathrooms and mopping the hard floors as those are the ones we personally struggle to keep on top of most. But without the schedule I think I'd get nothing done.
As a mum of a 22 month old I fully empathise with your situation 😂 Toddlers can be a real handful. If I'm taking care of my daughter one day, I need to take her out every couple of hours. Thankfully we live very close to a big playground, so I tend to just hang out there often. She also loves going to daycare, doesn't even pretend to miss me now 😅
Thank you for sharing your motherhood journey with the online world. Every time I watch one of your videos it’s such a breath of fresh air. Almost like sitting with a down to earth friend for a cup of coffee and a life chat which unfortunately too many of us don’t have in our lives.
18 months old is always the most difficult because that's the age when they can have tantrums when bring told a certain word, and they start developing their own ideas. I've found that it got easier once my daughter was at school. She's 7 and a half now and I find it much easier for myself as having discussions and planning is very useful for her. 18 months is also the age she gave up her naps....so it made the day even longer.
I would imagine having a toddler is the most difficult aspect of being a parent until teen years. If I were a parent, I would have a sitter to relieve me once a week if daycare or nursery isn't available. A high school aged girl or boy that can be highly recommended and trusted, has great grades, isn't a social outcast by choice, etc. He or she would be available on Friday afternoons into the evening, so I can go to the shops, buy food etc.
Sounds like you are doing amazingly as a parent! That said, if I lived near you I would honestly offer to come over and help with housework/maintenance.
I'm not a parent, but I moved internationally a year ago and can empathize with the 'I can understand more than I can communicate' problem myself. A year of language classes plus proximity of the local language here to my mother tongue lets me understand a lot, but a more complicated pronounciation and syntax plus my lack of vocabulary make it harder to say things. If that's frustrating for me as an adult, who can usually still switch back to English if I really need to be able to get a point across, it must be way more frustrating for a toddler!
I'm so glad my son is at daycare full time, every day... He's exhausting 😂 He's been going full time since 8 weeks old. He just turned 2 on 5 August.. And I feel he does have less tantrums now that he realizes that I can understand him more. He's always been clingy though... I have no gates anywhere (I don't have stairs), but I always have to watch him if he's not where I am...
Consider looking into your local library activities! I have found libraries make a lot of fun activities available to young children regularly for free!
I have an almost 3 year old, and I often take her to classes like swimming, gym or music. It is a bit expensive, especially the gym, but it is so worth it for me to have a weekly thing to do. Another great place to take them is the library. They often have nice children areas and activities for them, especially in the bigger libraries if you have access. And I have no idea if there is something similar around you, but in the Netherlands we can get a museum card for 70 euros a year, and you can go to very child friendly museums for free. Also things like dance activities for children in the botanical garden and stuff like that was free with that card. I don’t know if any of that is useful for you, but maybe some ideas to look into
Library is great and lots of church halls have cheap baby and toddler groups
Kitchen tower is helpful for this age I find. Also a second hand piccler triangle maybe?
Toddlers need to move they are very active...also when he is home put out some toys for the week put other toys away then rotate every other week because toddlers get bored. Figure out what type of toys he is interested in the most..is it cars, trains, is it light up noisy toys ..ect..do you have a routine for him at homedays? Run his day like a nursery...breakfast ..toy time ..tv show...snack ..nap ..outside time...ect. maybe buy him a ball pit or a slide for your yard. Also if its raining let him play in his rainboots and jump in puddles..never worry about the house..i tell people its lived in...
Get him a balance bike! Mine just zips around the park on that whilst his elder sibling does park things. We got one for £30
I have 5 kids, aged 3-15 years. 18months- 2.5 years has been the hardest by far🙈
Could you visit a place with lots of stairs for him to go up?
My kids loved that.
For the kitchen, could you assign a drawer for him to get in, so that he can join you in the kitchen?
Could you get some play equipment for him to use in your garden? 🙂 Something to climb on maybe? 🙂
Do you have a local toy library that you could subscribe to? They are good for borrowing big toys like balance beams, todler climbing frames, and th8ngs like that.
I really recommend teaching at least a couple of signs, it helps a lot! My toddler can show all done, more, milk and food and it really makes a difference communicationwise.
I feel like Orin is at the most difficult age as far as they can do a lot but communication is still a bit tricky and their brain isn’t developed enough for them to understand and listen for dangerous situations. I felt like every month after my toddler turned 2 he became easier to manage bit by bit. I’m in Australia so can’t give any specific recommendations for activities, but it is worth looking into anything where you can get a yearly pass that is closeby. It might mean just getting yourself a pass since he is so little. I am going to get passes for our local aquarium as a Christmas present for my boys. We also have zoos nearby and museums that offer passes, where you basically have to go twice or three times to get your money’s worth.
I can definitely relate! I have a soon to be 16 month old and it’s busy over here 😅
At this age my Kids loved a climing frame and balance bike etc inside. They need to move and are not really happy just sitting there and playing with toys.
And my Kids loved to go to the forest, picking up sticks, climb on rocks and fallen trees
I have a 19 month old who is a really early speaker (baby signs from 9 months, small sentences from 14months and can count to 30 now etc) and he still has crazy tantrums 😭 not because he cant communicate but because he does not like the word no haha. Oh and we go to the library a lot. That is our free day out! We take 20 books out each week, they have drawing, games etc and singing sessions.
Can we please stop saying they are free hours they are funded hours. The nursery are only getting a small amount per hour so parents arw having to top up on top of that and this confusing people because people are saying they are free hours. When infact its funded hours. If the nurseries had to survice on only the money from the Government they would never do it. It doesnt even cover the staffs wages let alone everything else. Please think about this before you say free hours because they arent.
wow, what a frustrating system. here in quebec the govt provides enough funding that the parents only pay $180 per month for full time daycare. it's entirely possible, it's infuriating that govts wont be more supportive.
Nah, just because you're feeling bitter, please don't try and police everyone else into maximising the bitter sentiment as well.
You know full well what Bryony means, and this like, attempted incitement of constant outrage is actually just really draining and I have no respect for it.
Totally agree with you! It gives such misinformation to parents who think they’re getting something for free when they are 100% not
Depends where you are- some places aren’t charging additional on top. And technically they’re only part-funded if people are topping up and you want to be pedantic about it.
With mine, I do 10 mins clean at the end of the day. at the moment, I'm getting over covid, and I really can't be bothered. Fun fact I'm a cleaner in a school we've just had the school holidays and getting back into the thing of getting up at 5 to be in work for 6 is hard.
My kid is coming up two and we're in a similar predicament with the play grounds - shes a good climber but the bigger playgrounds just have so many sheer drops 😵
Its easier during the troughs because theyre figuring out how to be a menace again with the new skills they learn 😂
Our nursery is cheap as they get older we get 15 funded hours and pay one day! They definitely aren’t free hours but I do get what you mean! It gets harder when their older look up ideas as when their off for half term
Oh lol what i would give to dial back to those years as teenage/early 20's were a challenge and a worry now into 30's it brings new worries as a mum....it is a different worry/concern/challange but i guess we sugn up when we make decision to have children.
Do your libraries offer play areas and children's programing? Here is the states they do, and they are amazing and free. Some libraries even have kits and toys you can check out and take home for a week or two.
I think scheduling particular chores is a great idea! I do that, I set up repeating tasks for them on Google Calendar and then they pop up on my phone and I can "Mark as complete" when I've done them. I find it helps mostly because it takes away some of the mental load of thinking what needs to be done and when! Not that it makes it perfect, we do also now have a cleaner once a fortnight for just the bathrooms and mopping the hard floors as those are the ones we personally struggle to keep on top of most. But without the schedule I think I'd get nothing done.
Garden center with fish? Often they have a cafe or okay are outside too
My son is only a few weeks younger and I can relate to all of this 🤣 it's nice to know I'm not the only one
As a mum of a 22 month old I fully empathise with your situation 😂 Toddlers can be a real handful. If I'm taking care of my daughter one day, I need to take her out every couple of hours. Thankfully we live very close to a big playground, so I tend to just hang out there often. She also loves going to daycare, doesn't even pretend to miss me now 😅
Thank you for sharing your motherhood journey with the online world. Every time I watch one of your videos it’s such a breath of fresh air. Almost like sitting with a down to earth friend for a cup of coffee and a life chat which unfortunately too many of us don’t have in our lives.
Do you still see or hear from maze and oobay? Or any of your Fosterlings
18 months old is always the most difficult because that's the age when they can have tantrums when bring told a certain word, and they start developing their own ideas. I've found that it got easier once my daughter was at school. She's 7 and a half now and I find it much easier for myself as having discussions and planning is very useful for her.
18 months is also the age she gave up her naps....so it made the day even longer.
I would imagine having a toddler is the most difficult aspect of being a parent until teen years. If I were a parent, I would have a sitter to relieve me once a week if daycare or nursery isn't available. A high school aged girl or boy that can be highly recommended and trusted, has great grades, isn't a social outcast by choice, etc. He or she would be available on Friday afternoons into the evening, so I can go to the shops, buy food etc.
Sounds like you are doing amazingly as a parent! That said, if I lived near you I would honestly offer to come over and help with housework/maintenance.
I'm not a parent, but I moved internationally a year ago and can empathize with the 'I can understand more than I can communicate' problem myself. A year of language classes plus proximity of the local language here to my mother tongue lets me understand a lot, but a more complicated pronounciation and syntax plus my lack of vocabulary make it harder to say things. If that's frustrating for me as an adult, who can usually still switch back to English if I really need to be able to get a point across, it must be way more frustrating for a toddler!
I'm so glad my son is at daycare full time, every day... He's exhausting 😂
He's been going full time since 8 weeks old.
He just turned 2 on 5 August.. And I feel he does have less tantrums now that he realizes that I can understand him more.
He's always been clingy though... I have no gates anywhere (I don't have stairs), but I always have to watch him if he's not where I am...