https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 11:23:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863894 Fri, 28 Dec 2018 17:41:58 +0000 codeitall 2863894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're potty training and my toddler is currently learning to be creative outside in the snow while I get some work done. We've done lots of playdough, watercolor painting, puzzles and matching games. He also spent almost an hour playing with his cars, a spoon, and a pile of flour. Then about half an hour 'cleaning' it up haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863724 Thu, 27 Dec 2018 16:52:30 +0000 nana87 2863724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’ve been playing w water beads and a play chemistry set a lot! </p> [attach=1484/18/pkf0rj.600x450.66BCBAED-35E8-4094-B970-DC4B1F6DF285.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863676 Thu, 27 Dec 2018 08:32:48 +0000 looch 2863676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We go outside as well...I am learning how to ride a Segway so my son and I cruise around town (he's on his bike) and I am following behind on the Segway. I just bought us those backlavas that go underneath the helmets for some additional warmth. </p> <p>I find that if I am home all day and don't at least get outside for an hour, I am a grumpy mess. I also need to get out of my pajamas within an hour of waking. Any longer and I begin to get in a funk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863650 Wed, 26 Dec 2018 21:56:17 +0000 Anagram 2863650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We go outside and play—we just bundle up to do it. We’ve been ice skating a couple times and I want to go again tomorrow. Today we went to an indoor play place in the morning and then went on an adventure to Dyker Heights in the early evening to see the crazy Christmas lights. </p> <p>I’m off every summer with my kids, so I’m pretty good with mixing “stay at home independent play” with outings to keep us all busy. I’m also lucky that my kids have learned how to entertain themselves in long unstructured time blocks now. They are 3 and 5 and can play together a couple of hours straight with no interference from me these days. Which is awesome. That’s why we’re getting a digital piano—I feel like I can take up a hobby again now, haha. </p> <p>I don’t do a ton of structured crafty activities at home, but they have free access to art supplies and tape and glue and scissors, so they make a lot of cool stuff on their own. And a lot of messes, too, of course. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863568 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 19:22:09 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2863568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It’s cold where we are so we mostly do indoor activities:<br /> Museums<br /> Library<br /> Indoor pool<br /> Then at home we always do lots of crafts. Currently kids are into learning to sew.<br /> And we will practice reading and guitar.<br /> I’m also trying to have them help with household tasks more than usual. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863566 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 18:41:38 +0000 lamariniere 2863566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Snowflake: ooh, I forgot about Spider-Man, but I did see the previews for it a few weeks ago. That’s good to know about the light effects! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863564 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 18:38:23 +0000 Mrs. Snowflake 2863564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: I'm thinking about either Mary Poppins or the new Spider Man. I've heard the Spider Man is really bad for migraines/brain disorders though :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863563 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 18:32:40 +0000 lamariniere 2863563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My ILs are here for the first week of break but we’ll have a second week when they are gone and DH is back to work and it’s just me and the kiddos. I’ll probably do a few play dates, go to the local play place or maybe trampoline park, we’ll probably hit the pool most days, and they can enjoy their new Christmas gifts! (We did presents on the 24th then left on the 25th for a few days, so all the opened gifts are waiting at home). I also impose nap time on my LOs during break, even my almost 8-yo. </p> <p>Has anyone seen the new Mary Poppins film? I may take them to see that too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863531 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 09:48:34 +0000 looch 2863531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: I am going to try those bird food ornaments and pray I don't end up with bird poop all over the exterior of my house, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863527 Tue, 25 Dec 2018 08:15:12 +0000 Mrs. Snowflake 2863527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: I run to the toilet enough thanks to my partially paralyzed stomach, but I love the rest of your list! ;) I think I'll teach my daughter paper snowflakes sometime this break!</p> <p>I'm off for 2 weeks. So far we've visited lots of family, Air Zoo, visited friends, mommy/daughter manicures, baking, bath bomb baths, Christmas prep, card games.</p> <p>Stuff I'm still planning: lots more baths, craft time, zoo lights trip, shopping trip with her Christmas money, giant bouncy ball drop at our children's museum, train trip to Chicago, trip to the movies, more card games, restaurant play places </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863460 Mon, 24 Dec 2018 10:43:11 +0000 LBee 2863460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got the stomach bug and running to the toilet has kept us super busy. Highly recommend. </p> <p>When we aren’t having a blast doing that:<br /> - cookie decorating<br /> - making snowflakes (paper + scissors)<br /> - making snow (can google how)<br /> - making Chex mix<br /> - bubble baths<br /> - nature walks<br /> - organizing toys and making donation pile in anticipation of santa’s arrival<br /> - making reindeer food<br /> - writing thank you notes / drawing thank you notes<br /> - dance parties </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863453 Mon, 24 Dec 2018 09:36:27 +0000 DesertDreams88 2863453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow all your kids are so chill, haha. </p> <p>Staycation with parents visiting: Zoo, boat cruise on a lake, family-friendly comedy show, scenic train ride, historical chapel visit, some easy hikes (we live in AZ), Children's Museum, local amusement park, and Mary Poppins</p> <p>Staycation just us: local kids amusement park, indoor trampoline place, indoor playground place, babysitting 3 kids (so that will be 5 all together)</p> <p>Things we've done in the past:<br /> - Magic Milk (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq1_fVcji4g" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq1_fVcji4g</a>)<br /> - Make homemade playdough and cloud-dough<br /> - Various combinations of baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring.... it works well with ice cube trays, pipettes, muffin tins, disposable mini cups, etc. .... example:</p> <p>- Fill an ice cube tray with vinegar<br /> - Fill a muffin tin or cake pan with baking soda (a little goes a long way)<br /> - Let LO put food coloring in each ice cube slot<br /> - Help LO use pipettes to "suck up" the colored vinegar and squirt into the muffin tins / cake pan </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863444 Mon, 24 Dec 2018 09:05:05 +0000 looch 2863444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son and I paint a big canvas every year. We've been doing it since he was about 5 and every year, he is able to do more and more of the painting. </p> <p>I use a local paint place as inspiration, they often have family days and I find something from there and we recreate at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863443 Mon, 24 Dec 2018 08:59:27 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2863443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetCaroline: fun times at your house!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863438 Mon, 24 Dec 2018 08:02:41 +0000 SweetCaroline 2863438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hummusgirl: So--I had to turn my computer on and log into the desktop site because I had lots to say--this is one of my favorite times of year :)</p> <p>Last year, I spent 11 days at home with DD and DH (who was recovering from a bad injury)--I had never spent 11 consecutive days with the two of them together. We weren't totally home bound, but because of DH's injury, it was difficult to navigate him through the ice and snow.</p> <p>Things We Did:<br /> - Made bird food "ornaments" and hung them outside. One of them was the pinecones + peanut butter + bird seed. The other you mix birdseed + corn syrup + gelatin (?) together and press them inside cookie cutters. We hung these outside our window and enjoyed watching the birds go after them. We also kept our bird feeder full and put suet out.<br /> -We made homemade french bread and homemade butter.<br /> -We melted old crayons inside of heart shaped silicone molds (and later gave away as part of valentine's)--this was great--took a long time to peel the crayons, break them, and decide which colors to mix together.<br /> -Make forts<br /> -Made snowman outside<br /> -Cut circles out of paper, and made snowmen on the wall--each circle had a letter of their name on it.<br /> -Finger painted the bathtub, then rinsed her down and gave her a bath.<br /> -Traced her on paper and let her decorate it.</p> <p>This Year-<br /> -Made cut-out dog treats for dogs we know.<br /> -Go see the $0.25 kid's matinees<br /> -Library<br /> -Hot cocoa at a coffee shop downtown</p> <p>I'll be following this thread and will post back if I think of anything else we did/want to do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863430 Mon, 24 Dec 2018 04:41:05 +0000 cake2017 2863430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is so great that you and your family are doing this. My LO is much younger but I would do the following:</p> <p>I’d do baking- cookies or cupcakes!<br /> Maybe a small “clean up/organization “ project where you can purge as a family and give away to the needy? Drop off at Salvation Army or Goodwill...<br /> Old Maid card game(a classic in my family :)<br /> Crossword puzzles and puzzles together and maybe tape a small one after they accomplish it and frame it?<br /> Read a book together<br /> Maybe make breakfast, lunch or dinner together as a family and camp out or make a picnic indoor! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863420 Sun, 23 Dec 2018 23:09:31 +0000 jhd 2863420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 4yo helped me make muffins the other day. He was super proud and enjoyed eating them. I want to do more baking and cooking with him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-are-you-doing-to-pass-the-time#post-2863418 Sun, 23 Dec 2018 22:46:01 +0000 hummusgirl 2863418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We decided to stay home this winter break and have over a week just to bum around doing whatever - a rare luxury! I'm using it as an opportunity to not only do things around town that we don't usually have time for (zoo, museums, etc.) but also think about things my kids (6 and 3 years old) should learn that I can teach them. </p> <p>So far, we've played Candyland and I taught the 6-year-old to play the card game War (going to do Go Fish next). I also showed him how to make origami balloons, which he loved. </p> <p>What other ideas do you have or skills/tricks/things are you teaching to your kids to pass the time over the holidays or just in general? </p>