Seven sanity suggestions when kids are home all day

So, the kids are home all day. When the coronavirus lockdown first started, I thought I'd treat it all like one big airport delay, but with the bonus of having a much bigger supply of toys and snacks available. But we soon found the novelty of the existing toys wore off unless a parent played too, and Mr H and I are both trying to work full time from home. And so, to assuage the guilt at seeing our 3- and 5-year-olds languish in front of screens for far too much of any given day, we ordered a few new things for the kids to do that might, if nothing else, serve as interesting interludes while they wait for the ipad or my old mobile phone to charge.

Anyway, here's what we bought and found works well. Good luck!

Disclaimer: the links below will take you to Amazon, and I may receive a small commission from them for any purchases made. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.



I'm generally quite a fan of the Melissa & Doug brand, and this easel (paid link) seemed a better height than most so we got this quite early on with a view that "homeschooling" might be vaguely more interesting if the kids were practising their writing or sums on a stand-up board. Sometimes Mr H leaves a few sums for Master H to complete which has been quite successful, and it has also been used for family games of "guess-the-picture" (easier than explaining the branded board game and no requirement for Miss H to be able to read a word on a card).



2. Dress-up costumes

Not just for Halloween! Our two would often see their costumes hanging up and ask to put them on, so we decided to expand the range. Master H can now transform into Mighty Chase from Paw Patrol (paid link), and Miss H rocks an excellent Owlette from PJ Masks (paid link):

   


We also recently bought an Anna from Frozen costume (paid link) for Miss H which looks fab.



3. Dinosaur clock (paid link)

Need I say more? It's got dinosaurs, clear numbers, 5-min markers with dots in between, and the seconds hand is silent so it won't disturb that blissful moment when your little darlings fall asleep at the end of the day. The only watch-out (no pun intended!) is that it needs a special type of battery: carbon-zinc (paid link) as opposed to alkaline so don't forget to check if you have some of those. 

Our son is already far more interested in telling the time now this is up on his wall so another win for the homeschooling effort!



4. New Crocs shoes (paid link)

I guess it's not surprising that, since lockdown began over two months ago those little feet have grown. We were given some hand-me-down Crocs that the kids have loved wearing for many months now, but the little marks on their feet are evidence that the shoes have had their day, so we decided the time had come to order nice new pairs. These are super easy for kids to put on when they want to run out into the garden, and they're also great for the beach. 




5. Flip-cover calculators (paid link)

Now, I was actually ordering what I didn't realise was the world's biggest desk calculator (paid link) for my husband (seriously - it's like half a laptop) and I decided he might lose it to the kids so I ordered these colourful ones for them too. The covers are quite cute as they're like the flip phones some of their favourite TV characters use but of course Miss H snapped hers off on the second day so be warned; they are not ultra robust. Still, she doesn't seem to mind and they enjoy using them to play shops or simply to test the calculators to see if the machines know their sums, ha ha!

   


6. Inflatable pool (paid link)

Okay, so straight up this one does of course involve parent supervision, but when the mid-afternoon rolls in and I know I can make some calls to colleagues whilst watching the kids splash around this pool is a brilliant way to help ensure some of that energy is well and truly burned off. I researched a few different options and this one seemed to be the best in terms of value for money. We have since bought some extras for it (started with a cover (paid link) and a little net (paid link) and then it extended to a filter pump (paid link), chlorine tablets (paid link) and dispenser (paid link) so we don't feel compelled to change the water daily!) but it's been well worth the money as we head into the summer.


            


7. Novelty household gadget

Finally, not strictly speaking a kids' entertainment item, but this little gadget is my favourite new kitchen accessory and, given we're all eating at home all the time now, it actually does add a bit of excitement to everyone's day! I can't believe it's taken this long to get this into my life, but it's genius: I introduce you to my new glass-fronted toaster (paid link)!

   glass-fronted toaster


So there we have it. Seven suggestions for a lockdown spring (or summer holidays). Good luck my friends - we will get through it!

Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Most read posts

What to pack in a baby's hand luggage

Image
So you've booked your flights, you've got a fabulous holiday ahead... now what do you pack in your baby's carry-on luggage? By the time my son was 15 months old he'd been on 16 flights, from short 1-hr hops to 13-hr long-haul journeys, so here's my tried and tested list of what to take in your baby's hand luggage. Before we start: always check exactly what hand luggage you and your infant traveller are allowed: most airlines allow the baby to have his/her own hand luggage and you can then have your own bag too, but do check. Sometimes I try to put my own things and baby's things in the one bag to save having to manage two separate pieces (in addition to the baby!), but for the purpose of this article I'm including only those things I would need to take specifically for the purposes of travelling with a baby. Please note: the links below will take you to view the products on Amazon. If you click through there is no extra cost to you, but Amazon...
Read more

Top 10 toddler 'tainment on a plane

Image
By the time our son was just over 1 year old he'd already taken more flights than his age in months. Crazy but true! He's now about to turn 4 and our daughter is 2, and while the maths of course had to slow down, our love of travel has not: we're British; our kids were both born in Australia; and we've just completed a family gap year in which we flew to Canada and the USA on two separate occasions for long-stay road trips. So my husband and I are very familiar with the trials and tribulations parents face when taking toddlers on aeroplanes! So whether you interpret this post title as "enter"-tainment or "con"-tainment (or both 😁), here are my top tips to help you stay sane on a plane with a little person (or two). Please note: the links below will take you to view the products on Amazon. If you click through there is no extra cost to you, but Amazon will pay me a small amount on any purchases made.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualify...
Read more

Travelling with two toddlers: single or double stroller?

Image
When we had our first child we bought a Baby Jogger City Mini GT stroller. And we loved it. Then when our second child came along just 18 months later we invested in almost the double version, the Baby Jogger City Mini double stroller (no GT - some small differences but basically the non-GT suited us fine and was both a) more available and b) less expensive). And we loved it even more - me especially, as it was when I was on my own with my two little darlings that I most appreciated being able to contain them both in one space! Seriously though, it meant I could take them both out for long walks (longer than I could comfortably manage with the baby permanently in the carrier); if my older one did want to walk for a bit I could always quickly strap him into the buggy around busy roads; and if they ever both fell asleep at the same time it meant I could park them up and enjoy a bit of hands-free time (and take some cute photos!). We chose a side-by-side stroller after talkin...
Read more

Moving to California: how to apply for your California driver licence

Image
So you've landed in sunny California on your new adventure on a shiny resident visa, and you've read somewhere that your overseas driving licence can only be used for 10 days. 10 days? Did you read that right? Yep, I'm afraid you did. If you're coming over from another US state you've got until your current licence expires, but if you're from overseas (like me) you need to have a California driver licence if you are considered a California resident. And according to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), this means you do any of the following: - Vote in a California election - Pay resident tuition - File for a homeowner's property tax exemption, or - Receive "any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents" See: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffdl05 We moved over here on an L1/L2 visa, which is basically one that global companies use to transfer staff between international offic...
Read more

All play and no work

Image
Arguably that should really be the title of this whole blog, eh? Although here I'm specifically referring to this, my final Boston post: after the previous one which interested the history buffs this post is all about the fun stuff we did in Boston, and there are more photos of the kids, so it's a nice lighthearted snapshot for you all. Enjoy. Harvard, MIT - the images conjured up are of deeply studious environments, with a weighty seriousness quietly but undeniably present on the campuses. Well, nobody batted an eyelid when Master H enjoyed doing big jumps off some handy rocks in front of the iconic MIT Great Dome building (his new favourite hobby; stone-throwing has taken a bit of a back seat this year due to a reduction in lake visits). Famous scientists' names adorn the perimeter walls that flank the dome building, so it was somewhat amusing to think that giants such as Faraday and Newton were overlooking two tiny people happily chasing each other and pic...
Read more

Christmas away from home

Image
Christmas at home can be a magical family time. But what if you won't be spending it in your own home? How do you make sure your family has a super special time without feeling like they're missing out on anything because they're not in their normal environment? The experience of travel is a wonderful thing, whether it's a holiday to a new destination or a visit to family who live some distance away, and at Christmas time there are plenty of ways to make it feel just as magical an experience as ever. Our kids are 4 and 2, and we've spent the past three Christmases away from our family home, either because we've been away on our family gap year or else visiting (and staying with) grandparents. So here are my top five tips for how to still have a fabulous family Christmas when you're away from home. 1. Decorate together! a) If you're staying in holiday accommodation I understand the reluctance to spend lots on decorations you simply can't tran...
Read more

Oh, Canada

Image
So for those who don't know, we're taking six months out of real life to do some travelling as a family. We left Australia in early July 2017, and, after a brief visit to see family in the UK, we took off again. First stop, Vancouver! Flying with a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old is never going to be the luxury experience the travel industry would have us believe flying still is, but we tried our best. Master H loved his Puro headphones (volume-limited so we wouldn't worry about his ears being assaulted for hours on end and Bluetooth to stop Miss H from chewing the cable), and Miss H was pretty good. Flight across: tick! Having landed without incident we bundled our crazy amount of luggage into a taxi and set off for our accommodation which is in an area called Arbutus, just south of the better-known suburb of Kitsilano. We're staying in a quaint little 2-bedroom cottage which is actually a converted garage. Known as "laneway houses" these are fairly...
Read more

A Californian Christmas

Image
'Twas the day before Christmas, and all through the house Two toddlers were thundering... ... and so we went out to meet my lovely friend Lisa and her five-year-old son Niko. I first met Lisa when we were both students at UCSD (University of California, San Diego), and I've since seen her in England and in New York - isn't it excellent when friendships can span the globe? We had pancakes, then a play in a park, and it was a splendidly Californian way to spend Christmas Eve. It was particularly nice to have young company for our two as they don't really get much chance to socialise with other children - despite me looking for playgroups in every place we've stayed, our little ones tend to be too young for more formal classes (not to mention they're often full up or you have to commit for a full term), or too old for many of the baby groups run by the libraries. Sometimes we're lucky when we visit parks and there are some 2- or 3-year-olds there, but mostly...
Read more

Farewell, Los Angeles

Image
By now I ought to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the animal kingdom. Los Angeles Zoo marked our fourth zoo trip, and this time we identified the animals we really wanted to see, headed in a zig-zag fashion from one to the next, and took in anything else that was interesting along the way. Previously I would plot a nice, logical route which makes sense on the map - if you're an adult. If however you are approximately 18 months old and have that oft-but-not-always-endearing habit of walking in circles / backwards / any direction other than the planned one I've found it helps to direct the party towards the next exciting animal on the checklist and hey, if an ocelot happens to be en route then we'll all stop and look at an ocelot. (True story.) We don't tend to take many photos at zoos, mostly because we're either running after a child each or it's just too hard to capture animal + child in one shot. But if you look closely here you can just see the giraff...
Read more

Trains and boats and planes - and wagons

Image
San Diego has a strong Mexican flavour to it, in part because it is so close to the border (a mere 17 miles), but also because it was home to the first Spanish settlement on the whole U.S. west coast. The original settlement area is now a quaint, jolly little tourist destination called "Old Town", which is a curious cross between colourful, musical Mexican restaurants and shops, and restored hotels, semi-original buildings and even a wagon museum hinting at the days of the wild west. Mr H and I had been before but on those occasions we'd pretty much headed straight to a restaurant, so this time we arrived mid-morning and took a look around. We then headed into the main square for lunch, where Mr H and I were able to indulge in our favourite cocktail when in California: the margarita! Little Miss H always thinks these drinks look rather interesting, so fortunately we were able to distract her with some cranberry juice. After lunch we headed ba...
Read more