arrgghhh pulling my hair out

I need to find things to keep Rhiannon occupied, she has so much energy its driving me insane.

If we go out she is fine, until we get home, and then she is just plain naughty, and into everything.

I would love to have her outside, but its too hot in the middle of the day, and no matter how much sunblock i have on her she still burns so need to be inside during this time.

Tonight we are going to mcds for dinner, and then off to the park for an hour or so...and tomorrow she is busy for the day, as well as friday.

but that is really unusual for us...any ideas on wht to do with her would be great.

I do have paper and crayons etc here, but shes not intersted in really sitting still for longer than 5 mins.

I can totally sympathise - while I work during the week, we have the same issues on the weekends. But things that I have recently found that work:

Baking a cake and letting her bake one too - I give Char a little bowl on her table and put a bit of everything in there - she mixes it and has a ball! (Warning - it gets messy!)

The Wiggles - they are my saviour at the moment, she is addicted and will watch them for ages (not all the time but she needs her 'fix' everyday!)

We have a shade sail outside of our back door, I set her up under that with her paddling pool and the hose on a dribble. She loves it. Maybe look at getting one of them?

What about enrolling her in daycare for a few hours a week? Get some of it out of her system and away from you - they have so much fun and the best bit is that you don't have to clean up the mess!!!

Don't feel bad FionaS I use the tv too. Esp at 6am on a saturday morning when I just need some time to wake up while she's already revved up!

We were recently givin the entire collection of Loving Touch CD's (from woolworths and foodtown). I have never bothered getting kids music before so was surprised when I put it on and Michaela immediately got up and started dancing around. Her favourite is 'songs for travelling'.

Do you have a tunnel or play tent? They're always appreciated in my house and anything to climb on (she'll climb anything whether she's allowed to or not so I use chairs and tables and tunnels and make an obstacle course).

Does she like to help around the house. We bought a telescopic mop when my neice and nephew were younger and made the handle short enough for a toddler. All the kids, including Michaela, love helping with the housework.

Does she like sorting things? We give Michaela piles of toys of different colours and encourage her to group them by colour or shape. I also give her items to put away (she carried a 2kg box of washing powder to the laundry for me the other day)

That's all I can think of for now but will let you know if I come up with anything else

we have the same prob kaz, boo's non stop energy

i found now if i give her the vacuum she will happily vacuum the house for me or, i give her the mop she loves moping.
i give her a wee pile of washing to fold, just anyting, she just loves helping and its great to make a game out of it. she also enjoys trying to clean my bathrrom and help with washing/ dishes.

did you try a different playcentre kaz?
i found stokes valley pc was lovely, maybe a bit of a drive (well not to much) but could be good for her, and you met a few of the mums at my farewell so they wont be total strangers.

have you also tried baking with rhi?? boo likes to cut the shapes when we make bikkies, im thinking of trying a few other quick and easy recipes to try out with her to see how she goes, there are a few she can make with you just watching, and teachign them to bake is a good life skill aswell

oh yes wiggles are my saviour to and mickey mouse oh and now big big world, she watches far to much tele though so can sing most songs from nickjr and playhouse off by heart

We have similar issues on the weekend, luckily Miss M has discovered crayons and paper so that helps keep her entertained!

I'm also going to cycle her toys today and bring out some of the older ones that she hasn't played with for a while, see if that helps.

Books are also a winner in this house.

Edited by Paws