Stay Safe, Stay Home -Activities

Now who thought that Covid 19 would have the effect that it has had so rapidly, effecting so many peoples lives. But boy hasn’t it just! One day I don’t want to hear anything about it and the next I’m refreshing my news app so often I’m getting repetitive strain injuries. Now I don’t have the worry of home schooling, as my two are little, and Ragnar hasn’t even joined a nursery, but we do do lots of activities and it is a daily ritual to leave the house, but getting out and about is a must for us.

I never wanted to be scared of taking 2 out on my own, so I always pushed myself to get them in that buggy for a trip of some sort - screaming, wailing or toy throwing be damned! So, the idea of being stuck inside – for me – was mind blowing. In fact, truth be told I have not as yet stuck to it, and have had to get out in the fresh air for walks and general mental health merriment. But, it has made me get my creative juices flowing with Ragnar, whilst Wolf watches on, whilst sucking on some plastic fruit or wooden teether toy of the day. I know some people’s mind can go blank when you’re stuck indoors trying to think of things to do. Also it can be quite tricky with babies activities especially when they’re Ragnar’s age (around 20 months) because he isn’t talking yet, but he understands a fair amount (well probably more than he’s letting on, because he does seem to like Mummy waiting on him hand and foot TBH) yet playdough and games like that are all a non starter because they just end up in the mouth! Also, for the most part, these are activities you will end up doing, and hopefully enjoying, because lets be honest they don’t really have longer than a 15 minute concentration time spa

So, stuck at home and looking for ideas – here’s some things we get up to…

Paper plate decorating – Ragnar loves this, I help him obvs when it comes to the glue but he loves using felt tips , glitter, pasta shells – or even just good old fashioned crayons to colour in something that is different than just a piece of A4.

Tie Dye – We got all the old T shirts and baby grows out – and made some tie dyed clothes, now this Ragnar did pretty much just watch and played with some string at the table (yes I kept my eye on him as everything has to go round the neck...why oh why do they start doing this BTW?) – but I had a great time and even made mummy and baby matching jumpers – which gave me a great sense of achievement for a morning activity!

Dance and Bubble parties – Blowing bubbles – my kids love it – We always used to fall hopelessly in love with a bubble man when me and my husband went to festivals moons back, and this inspired my bubble parties for the boys, and Ragnar loves me making the big bubbles with fairy liquid and glycerine (I just watched a YouTube tutorial) in the garden . And dance parties – what’s not to love – Mummy jumping round as a little Monkey pretending to bang her head and calling the DR – you know very well what I’m talking about! Head shoulders knees and toes – get singing!

Messy Play – I love nothing more than getting out our wipe-down table cloth out and covering it in baby safe paint or just yoghurt! They squeal with delight at playing in it – be warned it is very very messy and you may have to burn your bathroom down – and yes I still have red hand paints on my shower curtain as I forgot to tuck them out the way!) But hey, they get so much enjoyment our of it it is well well worth it. I always get them to do hand prints and foot prints, as I love to keep a little visual log of their hands and feet and see how they grow over the months.

Wet Play – My boys love bath time. We fill our little baby bath up on the floor and put towels all around it and let them splash and play with waterproof toys – adding food colouring for fun coloured water – Ragnar always ends up climbing in and just having a bath – but a great way to spend an afternoon if you cant get outside.

And finally my last little thing is a ball pit – now I know not everyone will have the balls to play with ( I got mine from a charity shop – I always always see them in there!) – so I also do it with balloons – just cheapy ones from the corner shop – and I bung them all in our travel cot. This works for me easier than those little paddling pools because if they fall over its safer with the higher sides, and also they don’t end up throwing quite so many balls everywhere! So for me a win win – they both love it and get a great afternoon of entertainment in there – which means Mummy can sit down and have a brew – what’s better than that?