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Ideas on activities to keep toddler occupied during chickenpox

28 replies

PleaseDoNotAdjustYourSet · 01/07/2013 05:51

Dc1 (19 months) has chickenpox and has been kept indoors since thurs, so today is the 5th day. The spots have started to dry up but are still itchy and red looking. I've been told to keep her in until at least Wed- Fri.

Dc1 is going out her mind indoors, we have resorted to ALOT of cbeebies , far far more tan usual (on a typical day we allow about 30 mins of cbeebies) since CP is hours a day.

We do sticking, colouring, laying tea/with toys, but she's so bored inside. Yesterday we had a picnic in the garden, to get some fresh air, but the garden is tiny, more like a big balcony and all gravel so she can't really stretch her legs.

Yesterday she was so distraught at the heat/being cooped up/itching that she kep dragging her pram out, sitting in it and sobbing ready mummy. I resorted to walking he up and down the deserted road, just to the end of the street and back for 5 mins. She cried when we bought her back in.

Any ideas on what to do to keep her occupied for the next few days?

Thank you

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TwentyTinyToes · 01/07/2013 06:12

Make playdough then play with it.
Make saltdough then do hand and foot prints, bake and then paint.
Paint the garden with water.
Paint with the wheels if toy cars.
Plant up some seeds.
Make an assault course with cushions, pillows, duvets etc.
Do pouring/measuring with dried food stuff e.g.rice, cous cous, dried lentils.

Is very boring being stuck in, extra tv is fine.

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PleaseDoNotAdjustYourSet · 01/07/2013 06:26

We don't have any paints but I will google how to make salt dough . We've already planted seeds and used them all up.

Being stick indoors for 5 days now is really getting us boy down. I feel awful for dc.

I've tried reading to her, colouring, sticking, we've planted a tomato plant, picnic in garden, tv.....more tv, singing songs, dancing, but she's so bored. I can't help the feeling that I'm doing a bad job looking after her.

Surely no one else struggles this much keeping a toddler in.

How bad would it be to take her to the shops to buy some cake mix and come straight back home?

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Misty9 · 01/07/2013 07:06

I remember another thread about how bad would it be to take child with CP out...the very unanimous verdict was don't!

I'm sure you're not doing a bad job - keeping a toddler indoors isn't natural, so its bound to be hard. Mine (21mo) goes insane with just one day! Is it just you and her? Is there anyway you at least can get a break?

You could order something like a mini trampoline for next day delivery, if money isn't an issue? Indoors and outdoors that way.

Have you got cornflour? Can get someone to buy it? Mix it with water and food colouring - great fun, and can be used for painting too.

Check out the imagination tree website for tons of ideas.

Hope she gets well soon. We're yet to endure CP with ds...

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PleaseDoNotAdjustYourSet · 01/07/2013 07:35

Thanks misty, no corn flour in the house - have plain flour?. I have enough food for us both to eat until dh comes home again at 9pm. Just me and toddler - has been for the last 5 days.

We hav toys,crayons, paper, tv, iPad, books and a cat. Don't have any spare cash or space for a mini trampoline, but if we did tht would be a good suggestion.

I actually feel like crying....maybe it's the cabin fever, I'm a also 33+1 pregnant so getting tired very easily. Have completely no idea what else to do to entertain her!

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QTPie · 01/07/2013 08:02

Make dens. Can you do an obstacle course?

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LIZS · 01/07/2013 08:06

Paddling pool or water play with a bowl and some beakers/buckets , paint brush to "paint" pictures on patio and guess what it is, similarly chalk . Add some bubble bath and see if you make bubbles to blow

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Bearcrumble · 01/07/2013 08:09

dry pasta, pulses or rice in a big shallow box and lots of spoons/yoghurt pots etc for scooping.

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Bearcrumble · 01/07/2013 08:14

Sorry someone's said that already.

If you don't mind the mess - my ds used to love it if I put flour on the kitchen table - he'd swish it around and draw patterns in it.

how about a bath with ice cubes coloured with food colouring in it? or balloons filled with coloured water in it?

Making a tent with clothes horse and sheets.

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QTPie · 01/07/2013 08:28

I couldn't - and wouldn't and didn't - take DS to populated areas whilst he had chickenpox. Quite a lot of people do (including baby groups and a friend of a friend even went ahead with her son's birthday party.... Hope she told the other guests beforehand).

What I did do, after a week of infection, was take him to a deserted park for a run around. Not a play park, but a park. It was an early January school day on the morning. I drove there and drove back. Didn't go within 300 yards of a soul. Are there any deserted outdoor areas that you can take her to?

I also took him to Waterbabies after the all clear (both from the doctor AND from Waterbabies - I had phoned up and checked...) and someone in his class still got it (timing meant it was unlikely not to be from us). It is highly infectious.

Do you have friends who can come over for a play date (who are already immune)? Might be a distraction.

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PleaseDoNotAdjustYourSet · 01/07/2013 09:17

Thank you everyone...qt we live in central london so there's nowhere deserted around here, except the road directly outside our house at times (hence why I took her up and down the street 3/4 times yesterday when she was hysterical).

We have no paints, we have bubbles which I have been blowing for her, but that entertains her for maybe 2 mins at most. We don't have a paddling pool either.....makes me realise how limited in everything we are - have food, some toys, crayons, paper, a tiny garden the size of a balcony and the tv.

Really trying my best to be creative, I don't know what else to do with such little resources. She screams when she's in the bath and isn't keen own the water at all, not sure if the water is aggravating the spots or not, but she's not keen on that.

I have some musical instruments so was going to play with those this afternoon, but struggling to find activities to fill the day.

Stupid question, but how would I make an obstacle course? We have a tiny living room (just to add the entire house is tiny, so extremely limited on space as well).

She's sobbing right now. She's stood at the pram dragging it in the living room shouting ready mummy, ready. She's been inside since Wednesday evening, so I can't blame her. I feel like she thinks I'm punishing her somehow by keeping her in, I wish I could entertain her more.

Wish we had paints and some stickers at least. This is the 5th day since the spots appeared and aren't liquid filled anymore, most are crusting over.

When would it be safe to take her out?

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PleaseDoNotAdjustYourSet · 01/07/2013 09:18

Also, all of my mum friends are at work (I've taken this week as holiday leave to look after dc) and the ones that are SAHMs children haven't had CP yet.

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Bearcrumble · 01/07/2013 13:42

Poor you both. Hope her spots crust over soon.

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Bearcrumble · 01/07/2013 13:44

obstacle course - pillows, sofa cushions, duvets, boxes, clothes horse, beanbags etc arranged so she has to crawl through or over them.

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PleaseDoNotAdjustYourSet · 01/07/2013 16:20

Thank you bear I'll try that. Her spots have scabbed over now but they are still red - scabbed, not liquid filled but red and very itchy, when is I safe for her to go out? Tomorrow will be 6 days since her first spots....is Wednesday okay or is Thursday a safer better?

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isoldeone · 01/07/2013 16:23

Try poissonrouge.com for the iPad i

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Misty9 · 01/07/2013 16:42

You poor thing - heavily pregnant as well, you're a saint in my eyes! Highly recommend peekaboo barn for the iPad. Thinks its about £1 but definitely worth it.

Does she like messy play? (Mine hates it). What about basic cooking together? Or just putting some cereal in a bowl and crunching/pouring/eating it? If you get 5mins this eve, def check out the imagination tree website, it's brilliant. And get dh to get emergency chocolate on his way home! Can he pick up cornflour or some paints for you?

Good luck - and don't feel bad about watching lots of beebies :)

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PleaseDoNotAdjustYourSet · 01/07/2013 18:28

Thank you misty she had a rough day today, was very itchy and sobbed most of the day to go out. I managed to get the musical instruments out and we played lots of songs together, we did drawing for a bit and made so,e salt dough and played with that. Am exhausted and feel awful for saying this but already dreading tomorrow as its another day of not being to take her out anywhere.

She didn't nap much either 40mims instead of 2-2.5 hrs so am sure that didn't help her feeling awful today.

Going to try the obstacle course tomorrow and hopefully paint the salt dough decorations we made....although not sure if I will be able to fine somewhere that sells paint by the time dh is home.

CP is horrible and dreading having to go through it again with dc2(!)

Thank you everyone for the suggestions, really appreciate it.

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PleaseDoNotAdjustYourSet · 01/07/2013 18:30

Had a look a the immagination tree website, it's fantastic....although the mum puts me very much to shame, she has 3 under 3 and does all that sensory play, and here I am struggling with just1!

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JesusInTheCabbageVan · 01/07/2013 21:01

Treasure hunt around the house? Instead of written clues, use pictures or objects which give a clue as to the location.

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Misty9 · 01/07/2013 21:06

Hehe, I DEFINITELY struggle with just 1 - you're not alone! In fact, he's only got a cold (not anything horrible like cp) and is so clingy I felt like chucking him out the window earlier Grin and I've got dh on hand as well...so you're doing brilliantly.

Hope tomorrow passes quickly I'd advise alcohol to help, but as you're preggers that's a no no I suppose

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Misty9 · 01/07/2013 21:07

Ooh, slightly off topic, but how did you make the salt dough? I liked the sound of that too. As well as potato printing inspired by peppa pig

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PleaseDoNotAdjustYourSet · 01/07/2013 21:22

misty it's really easy, it's a cup of salt, cup of plain flour and half acup of warm water. If its too sticky add more flour, too crumbly and add flour. Then knead and cut out shapes!

I pressed dd's handprint in one part. Then put in oven for 100 degrees for 3-4 hours.

Potato printing - great idea!

Really hope tomorrows an easier day...!

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Misty9 · 01/07/2013 21:38

Thank you! That's tomorrow's activity sorted then though said toddler will probably completely ignore my efforts to be a more engaged mummy, as usual

Fingers crossed for you :)

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itried · 01/07/2013 21:45

If you have lots of dried pasta, tip it out onto a tray and find lots of different smallish containers for putting it in, pouring it out, pouring it from one to another etc.

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PleaseDoNotAdjustYourSet · 01/07/2013 23:42

Great idea itried she does like tippin things out and putting them IMO containers again.

misty hope your dc enjoys the salt dough making!

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