https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:12:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327859 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 20:22:40 +0000 honeybear 2327859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: Ahh, well I just caved and went with the later bedtime. :) I would still try to give him a little rest, though. I suspect that even just lying down to read in the afternoon would make evenings calmer. I agree with @Mrs. Bee, lots of outdoor time is really key. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327816 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 20:00:53 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2327816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: at that age both my kids needed a LOT of outdoor time. bedtime not tired at its max until they dropped their nap! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327809 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:59:11 +0000 winniebee 2327809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: they have quiet time but no one actually naps in the room (the nappers go to a different room). We had a failed 2 months of quiet time where he just came out of his room constantly and pushed my buttons so I gave up. Maybe I should try again...but the nap ship has long sailed. He hasn't napped at home in 7 months! And when he does happen to even nap 45 mins in the car, he is up til 930-10. No thanks :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327804 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:57:56 +0000 winniebee 2327804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Bee: LOL!</p> <p>I really appreciate everyone weighing in on this. </p> <p>The funny thing is overall I would say he has been so awesome the last month or so. No real issues other than the Monday afternoon boredom session. I'll probably just wait it out and see how life is once we have more freedom on one nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327780 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:44:49 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2327780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i'm lazy so i would send him to school every day. both my kids loved school and thrived on the routine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327774 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:42:48 +0000 honeybear 2327774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would give him time, he'll get there ("there" being occupying himself when you need him to). I know it's not easy now, but it will happen, and probably pretty soon! </p> <p>I would try to reintroduce nap time on the days at home. Does he nap at preschool? Do they have nap/quiet time? I remember pretty clearly that the days (or weeks) when my son tried not to nap around 3.5 were the days when we had miserable evenings. I'd venture to guess that if he slept a little he wouldn't struggle as much in the late afternoons/evenings. If you want to try, my method was to get a chapter book and read it to him, but he had to lie down and stay in bed while I read. I typically rubbed his back with the hand that wasn't holding the book. (Rough life for this kid, right? ;) ) It worked well, especially if we'd managed to get in some good exercise/running around earlier in the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327720 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 18:39:42 +0000 Boogs 2327720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I struggle with this also. We can't be there all the time, because like you said we have things to do also. I think it's important they learn to happily play on their own, but learning that is hard! No advice, but looking forward to others suggestions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327648 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 17:38:20 +0000 KayKay 2327648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I struggle with this too! I'd probably already have K in a 4th day if it had been available (she only goes 9-1, 3 days/week), but other days I think she just needs free time at this age. I don't think there's a right answer -- just whatever is right for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327618 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 17:04:36 +0000 BandDmommy 2327618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd send him everyday. Brennan would be bouncing off the walls if he was here everyday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327600 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 16:51:36 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 2327600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I see two sides to this. Yes, things will be a little better when your youngest is down to 1 nap and/or walking. BUT, if your oldest is like mine, it's still a constant effort to keep her from knocking down her sister (who is still a little unsteady). </p> <p>W does get bored sometimes, but I send her to the playroom to do puzzles, color, or I make up a game for her to play. (Kiwi Crate app has some simple, easy ideas: <a href="http://www.kiwicrate.com/lists/top-crafts-ages-3-5/58)" rel="nofollow">http://www.kiwicrate.com/lists/top-crafts-ages-3-5/58)</a>. </p> <p>But, if you're exhausted, I would go ahead and put him in one more day. You can even do it temporarily if you want to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327596 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 16:48:11 +0000 rattles 2327596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: totally understand and relate! Hope it gets better soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327592 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 16:43:30 +0000 winniebee 2327592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rattles: oh no you don't sound condescending! I just know my limits and don't think themes are within the realm of possibility right now since I can barely keep my shit together ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327536 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:56:45 +0000 looch 2327536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you set up some rotating activities for him? </p> <p>I think unstructured time is hard for kids, but it is a skill they need to learn and that requires practice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327531 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:54:59 +0000 rattles 2327531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I certainly don't have it all figured out, so I hope it didn't sound condescending or something! I literally spent an hour or two listing themes, and then the activities aren't anything Pinterest will be calling about :wink: it just helps me to come up with suggestions on the fly. For example, this week is pumpkins. I suggested she draw jack o'lanterns with different emotions, she used a paper plate to make a jack o'lantern mask, stamped pumpkins with toilet paper rolls... Our usual craft stuff but it gives me ideas of how to drag out her attention span. </p> <p>Honestly, I find a schedule is the most helpful for us at meltdown prevention. We do breakfast, dress-reading-show-crafts-toys-lunch-nap-walk/park-errands-dinner. It sounds like your days off are pretty routine already, but if not, maybe that would help? And maybe he could help with dinner? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327522 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:45:00 +0000 winniebee 2327522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rattles: he gets a show when I put the baby down for his morning nap. It helps me have time to get ready for the day, etc, too. He does help with laundry, cooking, etc. With working and the baby I don't have much other time to plan out specific activities for him. But he gets to do art and other fun things when the baby is sleeping. </p> <p>I think I agree that he doesn't need more school, maybe just more structure to days at home when the baby isn't sleeping. He's pretty good at independent play (legos, kinetic sand, figures, trains)....but by 5 pm he's usually starting to come apart ; ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327508 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:40:13 +0000 rattles 2327508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsrain: this is my opinion too. </p> <p>I wouldn't put him in extra programming. I would try to have some activities in mind for him and let him take it from there. I have one a month shy of 3 and the other is 11 months, so we're rocking a two-nap plus toddler situation too. My toddler isn't in preschool yet. I have a theme each week with a couple activities for when she gets bored, and past that, I want her to use her imagination and learn independence in play. For the few hours you're really talking about, I think that'd be fine. Maybe he's just looking for more attention? Could he "help" with your work or do a project near where you're working?</p> <p>ETA: my kiddo also gets a tv show at the beginning of her sister's morning nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327434 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:14:52 +0000 mrsrain 2327434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I think there's some value in kids being bored and having down time where they play quietly or figure out ways to entertain themselves. It sounds like he has a lot going on during the rest of the week, so I wouldn't worry about it. And life probably will get more interesting as the baby gets older and can walk and play.</p> <p>Edited for typos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327431 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 15:13:42 +0000 Mamasig 2327431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would send him every day if he is bored at home. It sounds like he likes the outside stimulation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/35-year-old-bored-at-home#post-2327383 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 14:48:53 +0000 winniebee 2327383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>T is almost 3.5. He goes to preschool 8-3, three days a week. I work on those days and he plays with our very hands on nanny until about 4:30 on those days. The other two days, he is home with me and baby brother, who is 10 months and very mobile, but not walking. Baby is on 2 naps still and I honor those naps as much as I can. I think T is bored at home on those two days. He plays at home until after his brother's morning nap ends (by 1030) and we go and do something for the next few hours....sometimes it's doctor appts or a play date or grocery store.... and on Fridays we have music class and go out to lunch. Then come home for baby brother's afternoon nap (T, himself, does not nap). If there's enough time after nap, we'll go to the playground or play outside. But by the end of the days he's climbing up the walls, begging for tv, misbehaving, etc. </p> <p>I'm debating putting him in preschool a 4th day, but that seems like I'm banishing him or something. I'm home and available to him, but on my days "off" I need to get home stuff done like my laundry, tidying, and meal prep. Will he be less bored when the baby is walking? Or should I wait it out until the baby is just on one nap...which should be in like 4 months? </p> <p>Anyone else go through this? </p>