I know that sounds weird, but we don't do much in the winter months and I think the boredom and lack of things to do is catching up to me. My kids aren't in any extra curricular activities, we don't have play dates, we pretty much don't do anything in the winter and the summer isn't much different. Of course we can go to parks, swimming, walks etc in the summer so it adds a lot more to the activity list.
Does anyone else feel this way?
grapefruit / 4321 posts
I think you have to be the one to take the lead in these things. Your kids don't know how to pick activities, and make plans with friends. Sign them up for things and give it a chance. They won't know if they like something until they try it. Get to know the moms at preschool or join a local moms group and schedule play dates. If you want more exciting things to do, you need to make the effort to make them happen.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@Truth Bombs: there aren't many options for activities around us, and if there is something within 25 minutes we can't afford it. Story time at the library is during when LO is at school.
grapefruit / 4321 posts
@Bao: Play dates at home are free and flexible on timing. It may not be "exciting" but it would add some variety to the schedule for all of you.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@Truth Bombs: yes play dates would be an option. I'll try and work some out with friends.
persimmon / 1130 posts
How old are your kids? It might be fun to sign them up for something you think they might enjoy, especially in the winter months. Swimming, tumbling, etc. Plus that will help burn off excess energy!
DD is at daycare during the school year and gets out a lot during the day, so that takes some pressure off us. She is in swimming lessons 1 day per week, but no other activities.
During the summer when I'm home I take her to storytime at the library most weeks and try to plan a weekly play date with a friend as well to get out.
persimmon / 1130 posts
@Bao: Sorry, just saw that storytime doesn't work. You could check with the library to see if they have other activities going on too. Our library seems to have a lot of different activities going on for kids at different times.
Is there a parks and rec department in your city or nearby? Those tend to have a lot of affordable play options.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@LemonJack: our library is small and they only offer 2 story times one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday but at the same time. Luckily in the summer they add more activities since kids are out of school but nothing more during the school months.
Swimming lessons are the cheapest activity that is sort of close to us but that's Monday nights at 7:00. Which I'm willing to work with. Seriously we live in such a small town. Like I said there are activities 25 mins away but we don't have that kind of money to put two kids into an activity.
They are working on building some sort of rec center here though! (Shocking) but I'm not sure what it will include and I think they are a year or two out with that project:/
ETA: they are almost 3 and 4.5!
persimmon / 1483 posts
@Bao: A mom I know just started a preschool "co-op" with a few other moms with kids of similar age for the same reasons. It really just a rotating playgroup between 3-4 houses. When it's your turn to host, you just have to have a low key activity planned and provide a snack. It's a pretty awesome idea and she meet her fellow co-op moms on a local list serv.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@Madison43: Ok, I was just going to ask how to get something like that started. I know between DH and I we have a lot of friends on Facebook, some we don't know as well but I wonder if I put it out there we are looking for playdates we would get some interest? I mean who knows, but with so much lack of activities in my little town there are other parents that are feeling the same exact way as me.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
I would go crazy without play dates with my friends and their kids. I'm lucky that I have a good group of a few friends with kids the same ages that live within about 25 minutes of each other.
Also does your library have a kids room? We've gone there to hang out and play with the toys or look at books when I'm going stir crazy, even without story time.
But I get it. I have been getting really burnt out being home so much. We get out most mornings one way or another (even if it's just errands at the grocery store) but aft r nap it's usually starting to get dark already and it's such a long slog until bedtime.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@Foodnerd81: Thank you for understanding, it IS hard! Especially when it's just me, all the time, literally all.the.time. With not a whole lot of resources. I just put something out on my Facebook though, so heres to hoping I get some interest! I know a lot of our really close friends have busy work schedules but hopefully in the evenings or weekends. I'm the only one in my circle that stays home or has kids at all. Makes it tough. But I'm open to making new friends or rekindling with others!
ETA: our library has a room with a coloring table, some puzzles and usually some blocks but not a ton. It would be something to change things up a bit though!
cherry / 248 posts
In our old town the municipal Center had a gym and had something called toddler time. It was open to kids under 5 and run by the recreation dept. They'd set up a bounce castle. Hula hoops, blacks, balls etc. A local catholic school also ran something similar. Maybe you could get something like that started.
grapefruit / 4085 posts
Do you have a local FB moms group? Someone started a play date group in our town and I've met so many moms from it. We do lots of stuff with and without the kids!
pomelo / 5678 posts
I don't think it is about finding something outside yourself (talking makin things exciting), rather finding things you (in this case LO) are (/is) excited about!
coconut / 8483 posts
@Bao: feel your pain, girl.
I stay home as well with an almost 3 year old (fellow march 2014 mom!) and a 7 month old.
We also live in a small town. We go for walks (in the cold! Canada!), go to the library (not at story time... just for a change of scenery), drop in at gymnastics and drop in at the pool.
I also try to have a play date every week... even if just texting people one morning when we have no plans and seeing if anyone wants to come over. Nothing formal. Just coffee and chatting.
My husband works shift so on the days he works he leaves at 530am and gets home at 8pm. Longgggg winter days.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@fancyfunction: not that I know of but I wonder if I could try and find one!@Mrs. Champagne: yes such long long days, brutal! I need to get in the habit of going to the library for change of scenery like you mentioned!
cantaloupe / 6131 posts
I think it's awesome you are coming up with the initiative to start fun activities for your kids when your community doesn't have the resources or weather to provide it to the public. That said, I think you are being so hard on yourself! Having a lot of unstructured activity time is great for creativity and imaginative play. That said, maybe having some kind of structure and plan would help YOU feel more organized. Perhaps you can look into some themed activities you can do a week at a time and use your library to fill in the gaps.
For instance, let's say this week the topic is France. Monday you go check out a bunch of books about France or set in France. Then you can read Madeleine and have a French themed breakfast (baguette with Nutella and hot cocoa, par example). Tuesday you can learn about the Eiffel Tower and make Eiffel Towers out of construction paper or pipe cleaners and make ham and cheese crepes for lunch. Wednesday you can watch Ratatouille and ask the kids to help you chop vegetables for dinner (make a ratatouille-like pasta sauce and serve with pasta for dinner) and serve them some chocolate pudding mixed with some Cool Whip as "mousse." Learn about Monet and do some watercolors. Etc.
I think a lot of homeschool learning is set up that way so you can probably find resources like that. I think if you did one planned activity a day it would make you feel good about enrichment and it wouldn't deviate too much in your kids days.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@gingerbebe: thank you! I guess I just feel like everyone has their kids in activities, plus several play dates. plus family activities and we just kind of hang out and play ha. The girls honestly don't seem to care but I just feel bad. I love your idea of the themed activity, I think that will help and won't be too overwhelming since I do have limited resources.
I did get some response from FB friends so I'm going to see where that leads us!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
I would check meetup.com or Facebook for mom groups. If there isn't one I would start one. I'm sure there are other SAHMs in your area that feel the same way.
Even if you can't go to story time I would go to the library weekly. Trips to the grocery store and Target can be fun too.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@Mrs. Pickle: we do take trips to the store, which usually I need to go and have to drag them out...they'd rather stay home and play most of the time haha! But if I say we can look at toys they usually go along a bit better.
I had a few suggest groups to me on FB but they don't look that active to me, so I'm looking into them more and doing research.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
@Bao: I joined one recently and it's been great. With my work and DD's school schedule along with story time, nap schedules, etc. we can usually make an event once a week or once every two weeks. Oh, I wonder if there is a MOPs group in your area?
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@Mrs. Pickle: a friend just commented and tagged one but I don't see info on activities/get together...looking into it still!
ETA: just kidding I read it too fast it's something else she suggested
persimmon / 1130 posts
@Bao: If your kids are content I wouldn't worry. I purposely only have DD in one activity because I don't want to overschedule her. Kids just want to play!
It makes it hard that you live in such a small town, but hopefully you will get some interest from others regarding play dates.
cantaloupe / 6669 posts
I think everyone has to find the right balance for them. When I first began SAH with LO, I think I over-scheduled us a bit. I think kids definitely need to learn how to cope with boredom, use their imagination, play in the dirt, etc. It's a relatively new concept that children should be constantly entertained and that their lives should be "exciting"!
Having said that, I personally get in a rut if we don't have much going on. This summer, we made a "summer to do list" of fun things to do and it kept me motivated to check them off. We just made another one for before our baby brother gets here. Some of the things on the list are having a tea party, going to the zoo, and going to a movie, for example. Maybe something like that could work for you better than trying to do a scheduled regular activity because it's more flexible?
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@LemonJack: they really are content!
@daniellemybelle: yeah I find myself comparing so that's my issue. I *feel* like I'm the only mom who just spends most of the day at home with the kids. I do like the idea of an activity list though, I'll have to try that out!
persimmon / 1445 posts
We have a local moms group and people are alllllways trying to meet other moms on there and set up play dates. I think a lot of moms get super bored. I have a great friend group of wonderful women who have similar aged kids to mine.... But I still get lonely! I definitely try to get out of those house every day (even if we just run up to the grocery store) but it doesn't always happen. We like to go to the library/ Barnes and noble for storytimes, the bounce place, and take classes at local churches (and the rec center but I know you don't have one). We also have some churches and businesses that do mom's morning out, which is a playgroup but you get to leave and run errands for a couple hours- they are usually cheap or sometimes even free!
wonderful kiwi / 23653 posts
We don't have a lot of extra money for classes, etc so I have to be creative! DD1 is only in daycare 3 half days a week... She is only 2 so she's also fairly content to play at home. Even a quick trip to a supermarket/Target is still a trip for her. Our library has museum passes you can loan for free, so DH and I both take turns taking our museum passes to take her maybe once or twice a month. I stalked Groupon and got a Gymboree open gym pass, and a toddler time pass for a bounce place for cheap to get her out of the house. We also have church on Sundays, people come over every Friday and it's saving grace that she has cousins her age so we get together sometimes to play. It may not be SUPER fun but we make it work!
grapefruit / 4455 posts
@Bao: Similar situation here. Poor DS. DD at least goes to school five mornings (til 1) per week, but DS doesn't really do anything. He's still napping a lot and between that and DD's schedule it's basically impossible to take him to story hour or anything before she comes home, and by the time she comes home, she tends to be sort of tired and just wanting to chill at home. It's not so bad when the weather is nice because going outside seems to re-energize both of them, but it really hasn't been these past few weeks at least. I'm trying to get DS solidly on to one nap and then get an activity or two or three in the AMs. Next year he will go to preschool too.
grapefruit / 4455 posts
Also, with DD we have tried quite a few lessons, etc., but nothing really stuck.
pomelo / 5678 posts
@Bao: yeah, I don't do playdates or structured activities, but that's not my style, I suppose. Like @gingerbebe: suggested, and what I was trying to say, I think it is about finding, developing interests. We are researching birds, learning bird calls, and go to wildlife refuges to try to find them, things like that!
honeydew / 7230 posts
This time of year is hard for me for activities, too. Especially since I deal with seasonal depression which makes it hard for me to get motivated. This year the kids started preschool which is a lot of action, but in the past when we get stuck in a rut, I try to plan special activities for us to just do at home. Most of our days are just free play all day long, so it's easy to spice it up by just coming up with a few things to do. Maybe we will read Valentine's books all day, make pancakes colored pink, and then make cards with heart stickers and pink markers. We're not actually doing anything different (and not anything that costs much money or makes us go out driving in snowy weather or anything), but it has the feel of something "special." Having a couple days that are more structured with these special activities helps us get through the other boring days.
cantaloupe / 6131 posts
@Bao: I think your girls liking to play at home with each other and spend time with you is a positive thing - it means they feel happy and secure and stable there and you're obviously doing something right if they are so content. There will come a time when they will ask for an activity or sports team or whatever, but for now, I think they would be perfectly happy having their horizons broadened through adventures and learning you bring home to them through books and activities. When the weather is nicer, you guys can go out and collect rocks and play mud kitchen or whatever, but if its cold and snowy, just embrace that. Make snow ice cream, learn about penguins and the Arctic, talk about all your favorite ways to stay cozy and warm when its cold out. You're doing great mama!
papaya / 10570 posts
@Bao: Kids' lives aren't meant to be exciting! 
They've got a playmate in each other and loads of unstructured play time - that's awesome! Soon they will be at school and knee deep in homework.... It sounds like they are happy so let them enjoy hanging out at home while they still can.
@gingerbebe: wow, can I hang out at your house for a week? It sounds like so much fun! A French themed week!! That's the half term school holiday sorted for us!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Do you have a nature preserve nearby? You can do so many activities related to nature and being outdoors. I have a book at home, I am
Blanking on the name, but it has ideas for lessons, planned seasonally.
My son doesn't do well in unstructured environments, he gets bored. So I really need to find things to do otherwise the entire family suffers. I plan to take some time off in a few weeks, my son is in school during the week, but I am already making plans on how I will fill up the summer.
blogger / nectarine / 2043 posts
@Bao: We live in a major metro area with access to a ton of free museums, play spaces, you name it, and most of the time if you ask what we did on the weekends, I'll tell you we did errands, played at home and maybe went to Target or Barnes and Noble so that LO can run around the toy aisles. Even with a ton of resources around it can be hard to get out of the daily grind, so don't worry too much about it. Definitely explore what's possible if you're feeling stagnated, but definitely don't worry about keeping up with "everyone else." Remember that most of us don't put Target runs on Facebook/Instagram 
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@2littlepumpkins: My 4 year old is in preschool 4 afternoons a week, so kind of the same situation! As far as lessons or activities, I've asked and at least my oldest says she doesn't want to do anything right now. So I guess I shouldn't stress because maybe in a few years she will want to do EVERYTHING!
@Greentea: It's not my style either, but kind of feel forced to try it...not going to lie I was feeling pretty bad when I first posted this thread
@gingerbebe: @Cherrybee: Thank you, they really do seem very content to me, at least 90% of the time!
@looch: We do actually, one of the perks of living near a lot of woods/country area. As long as it's not below freezing or too much snow we could do that. Great idea!
@Mrs. Carrot: Thank you, this makes me feel better.
Thank you everyone so so much. I was feeling pretty down when I first posted this thread, but now I'm feeling much better about it!
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts
@Bao: i havent read this whole thread, but do you have a local ymca? that was my lifeline when i was home. we got to use up to 2 hours of nursery every day. i would drop the kids off and then go to a class or workout on my own or just sit in a chair and play on my phone. there was a cost for the mwmbership but it was cheaper than a lot of activities for what you get in return. for a while i even worked 1-2 shifts a week in the nursery and got a tiny paycheck and a free membership, so that was nice too.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22276 posts
@Mrs. Lion: we do but even those memberships aren't in our budget 
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
I know what you mean! With 3 kids, its hard to commit to activities and lessons (and plus it costs $$). I feel like everyone else has family commitments (we dont often have family around) or playdates!
Our big weekend outing is usually Costco! Kinda lame but the kids do enjoy it.
I love the suggestions here of doing some themes. My kids love even just nature scavenger hunts in the yard. Or an outdoor craft.
Do you have a Chick-Fil-A or some place like the mall with an indoor play area? I would post on FB the night before something like "Hey we are planning to go to XYZ location at 10am tomorrow, let us know if anyone wants to meet up!"
| Today | Monthly Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | 0 | 1 |
| Posts | 1 | 3 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
55 comments