How do you get thru the day?

[Lilac]

What kind of activities or outings do you do with your toddlers/preschoolers to pass the day?

How much freeplay? How much devoted mommy play?

[Iggy]

They spend most of the morning running around the house, dumping toys all over the floor, and watching a few minutes of Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers here and there. Sometimes we go outside, if it's nice out, and they play in the sandbox and run around in the yard, throwing toys around. Then they eat lunch and take a nap. Then usually after lunch we go outside for a while, or go to the library. Dinner, playing with Daddy (usually outside again), and bath and bed.

[Lilac]

Oh how I wish mine still napped. :cry

[Supercalafragilistic]

It's really hard to "devote family time" with me working at home and having such odd hours. So, we try to get outside for a while if it's nice out, or we will go to the park. Usually, the kids just run around and play in the house.

[Candyland]

When we are home we play outside when it is nice. Sidewalk chalk, Sidewalk paint, ride bikes, go to the park, etc. They don't nap but I try to get them to lay down to watch a 30 minute movie or look at books for a little bit. When we are stuck inside they'll make tent houses and play, play doh, painting, dress up. We pretty much do whatever whenever. I don't have a schedule but I am not home with them every day either.

[zak frost]

Lots and lots of alcohol! :teehee

[melvisray]

We usually try to go somewhere (a playgroup, grocery store, park) before lunch to get out of the house before it is sweltering. Then after lunch we have naptime for 2-3 hours. After that we will play inside and eat snacks until dinner. Sometimes if they are playing well or watching something on Noggin, I will sneak to the couch in the other room and read a magazine, or sometimes I sit on the floor of the kitchen and watch Oprah on my 13inch TV that I have in there. My dad was here one day and came in and caught me sitting on the linoleum doing this, and he was laughing so hard because the babies were in the other room watching TV on the big screen, and I was BANISHED to the kitchen floor to watch the little TV!! :lol

[Lola Starr]

We have tv/play time in the mornings. I pick up the house, make beds, do laundry or whatever while they play & watch a bit of something. Then we get ready to go out before lunch. We get home & Daddy comes home shortly after. He takes over & let's them play until nap time. Sometimes he takes them out for water play, but lately it hasn't been that warm. They nap from 3-530 or later. They wake up & we have a quick snack & go to the park or out front wiht sidewalk chalk, bikes, their tent, ride on toys, or whtatever. If I'm still working, Abuela takes them out. They like to help her water the garden. They play outside until dinner. If it is raining it sucks, because they get bored inside so we color or something fun for a treat.

After dinner, we do bath & they play & watch tv with Abuela until bedtime.

[BlueEyedGirl]

Lots and lots of alcohol! :teehee
:teehee

Emma watched way too much tv when I was home with her. We need more structure than that or I get lazy and don't want to do anything. I think a balance of play alone, play with mom, watch a little tv, rest....is good. Oh how I miss being home with Emma....well, sort of....it is a tough one for me. I'd like to work 20 hrs a week or so. That would be perfect.

[mom_x2]

we don't get out much here in HOT west Texas.It's already 80 degrees when we get up. Blond hair + blue eyes= SUNBURN!! We try indoor stuff....puzzles,paints,crafts.

Cool Trick........put food coloring in some vanilla pudding. It works just like fingerpaint. Makes great works of art to hang on the fridge.Easy to clean......and most of the left overs get ate.GREAT FUN!!

[Mrs.B]

Lots and lots of alcohol! :teehee

:spit

Zane walks around asking people if they're drinking beer. DH & I have the occasional beer at dinner. :shrug

They run around the house, play with toys, trash our livingroom. Then we go outside, they play in the sand/water table which is just a water table here, swingset, sandbox, tricycles. Color,TV & playdoh when they have to stay inside.

[zak frost]

Mine play in their bedroom or outside. They watch some tv, more in the winter time because it rains all the time. We also do some schoolwork here and there.