Hellobee Boards

This ks exactly why I am probably going to do swim lessons on a weekend. It sounds exhausting! But hopefully people have some good ideas I can steal!

Btw in addition to the phone problem you stated, I would also not want my kids to have my phone anywhere near water!

We take swim lessons at a place where there's a separate waiting room for parents and siblings with one-way mirrored glass. DD1 can't see whether DD2 is reading or playing endless alphabet or whatever. At her gymnastics class it's trickier. I usually bring a little backpack of activities for the 45 minutes of class time (a travel color wow desk, new library books, a magnadoodle, a hot wheels car), and if she's been patient, her reward is the phone for the last 10-15 minutes when DD1's class has free play on this giant play structure block pit thing at the back of the gym. Honestly, playing with the water fountain is her favorite activity there!

I'm lucky because DS is content snuggling with me and he loves watching the kids swim. The first time i brought him to DD's lesson, i brought a bunch of books and read to him. The second time he just sat on my lap and watched the kids.

Not quite the same thing, but my 2 year old comes with us to my 5 year old's karate class every week. At the beginning, I would hold him and walk around with him, keeping him entertained. Soon enough, he was like @Freckles: mentioned- totally content cuddling on my lap and watching the other kids. I thought it would be way worse than it actually is!

Bubbles, snacks are great. What about sidewalk chalk, small toys, puzzles, coloring books, balls, balloon games, run on the grass, hide and seek a toy. 30 mins can go by quickly.