Survivng the summer holidays with 6 year old and 2 year old.

[PrincessAnnaOfArundale]

Title says it all really. Just looking for your top tips for surviving the next 7 weeks!

My boys are lovely individually but together seem to struggle to do things without it becoming a squabble. I intervene and end up entertaining them every second which doesn't do any of us any good.

I love doing things with them and love not having the manic school run but are there any Supermums out there who can offer any advice? I really struggle to find things they can both enjoy and I end up getting quite stressy with them which isn't fair and I hate snapping at them when they are really only acting age appropriately!

We're only on day 2 of the holidays. We had a lazy day yesterday, spent the day in the garden and when DS2 went for a nap I played board games with DS1. Problem is that board games/ lego/ hex bugs etc have to be played with when DS2 isn't around because he is into everything and obviously can't understand the concept of the game.

Any cheap/ free activities? Any ideas for what we can do around the house that don't involve the TV or ipad?!

[milkyman]

Have a look at the website 'Imagination Tree'

[Kantha]

Do everything as slowly as possible. So if it takes 40 mins to get dressed that's fine. Don't over schedule yourself so you are rarely in a rush.

[PrincessAnnaOfArundale]

Thanks. I like the no rushing thing! I tend to get snappy when DS1 is buggering about half dressed but I suppose in the holidays it isn't an issue. I must calm down and lower expectations I think. Thanks for the website address, will check that out now. x

[DreadfulSpiller]

I'm in the same boat but with DD1 (6) and DD2 (20 mo), the problem even more acute as DD2 really hasn't got a clue about alot of things yet and is quite stroppy!

[PrincessAnnaOfArundale]

It's hard isn't it DreadfulSpiller ? I hate to be one of those mums who countdown the days til school starts but I am finding it hard to incorporate both their needs into fun activities for them. Increasingly DS1 is being allowed on the computer or to watch a movie instead of playing. It doesn't help that DS1 hates playing by himself so I get roped in which then leaves poor DS2 being told to 'leave it' 'don't touch' by DS1. I understand why because DS2 is still such a clumsy baby in DS1's eyes, he isn't a destructive child but is just behaving like a normal 2 year old!

Today I managed to do some painting with them both outside. I played Junior monopoly with DS1 when DS2 was in bed for a nap. Other than that I seem to have just pottered around the house and left them to entertaining themselves because any toy or activity that I initiate ends with DS2 essentially 'wrecking' it for DS1 and I end up snapping at them both :(

[eddiemairswife]

Nothing wrong with leaving them to entertain themselves.

[HauntedNoddyCar]

Am in the same boat with mine aged nearly 8 and 3. Plus I'm not well!

Sympathy.

[AnathemaDevice]

I think pottering about and leaving them to it is the way forward. I've got a 5 year old, a 3 year old and a 17 month old, and I find that the more I try to structure their play the worse the arguing gets.

The best day we've had so far is when I filled up the paddling pool and the water table. DS1 and DD splashed each other, while DS2 pootled about transferring water from one side of the garden to another.

[PrincessAnnaOfArundale]

Maybe I am trying to do too much. Today we just went into town to buy some more craft stuff and outdoor paints for them to play with throughout the holidays. Just come home now and feel like I may have to just back off, do some cleaning and leave them to it! The more I TRY to do things with them, the more they seem to get in each other's faces and wind each other up!

[AnotherStitchInTime]

In the same boat with dd1 5, dd2 2.5 and ds 7 months. I try to go out every day sometimes twice a day. Luckily dd1 is still young enough to enjoy coming to our local playgroup and I do see older children there too. I rotate between different parks and playgrounds in the area to reduce boredom. I also leave the older two to play and try not to referee too much. Might try cooking something together if there is a rainy day.

[SugarPlumpFairy3]

I have a 7yo and 21mo twins. I try to plan our days rather than just letting them 'happen' as i find that reduces stress. We tend to go out in the morning to the park, shops, see friends etc and get home for lunch time. The twins go down for a nap after lunch and my 7yo either does her own thing or we do something like painting that would be hard to do with the little ones around. After their nap, we either play in the garden, play inside or go out again depending on everyone's mood!

[QuidditchTonedThighs]

I have boys age 6 and 2 and I am trying to think what they enjoy doing together. Today they played a game for an hour in the park where they climbed a hill, rolled a ball down it, chased the ball, then climbed back up and did it again. It often seems to be the chance, unstructured activities they like the best.

They enjoy painting, playdough (with playmobil people and lots of cutting tools to much about with), sand, water play (eg with syringes, funnels and bubbles and stuff in the bath), football and frisbees, bubble machine, skateboards and scooters, toy cars with ramps and tunnels made from cardboard tubes and boxes, dancing to music.

Getting outside where they can enjoy free play just mucking about with sticks and stuff can really work, too.

[PrincessAnnaOfArundale]

Yes they love being out in the garden. I think I am being too harsh on them! I reread my op and it sounds very negative. I just feel like there are grumblings of squabbles rumbling under the surface constantly so I am always on 'high alert' to distract DS2 or tell DS1 off for not sharing etc. I am being too harsh on them.

Today they played with sticks in the garden....sticks! No squabbling or arguing. I am lucky that they are both very gentle boys really and haven't got to the 'fighting' phase yet! Lord knows how I'll handle that. I seem to be micromanaging them all the time to prevent things from escalating. I have realised I am a major control freak. I just love them both so much that I want them to be safe and having fun all the time. DH thankfully is a lot more 'go with the flow' and it really does show in the boys' behaviour and they are just far more relaxed when he's not at work.

I am the one who needs to check my behaviour I think! Thank you to everyone for the replies....now I need to start a thread on hw the hell I can chill out and enjoy them don't I?!

[alteredimages]

Hi princess, just read your thread. I have also realised recently how awful my control freakery is, it is so hard not to intervene!

I don't have any great ideas, but have spent the past two months in a flat with my inlaws with a tree year old and a six month old so you definitely have my comiserations.

Yesterday DD washed her soft toys in MILs washing machine with DS's dirty nappies and using about half a box of detergent and today she has been pretending to fish with an ikea shoe horn and all the shoes in the shoe cabinet. Sometimes you just have to give up.