How do you entertain a 5yr girl & 18mth boy at home for a wk when all they do is whine and moan?

Question

My 5yr old will be on holiday next week and I desperately need some ideas on entertaining her and my 18mth old son together. Because of their age difference my daughter cannot always do what she wants to do (eg: painting) as her bro constantly interrupts her and messes her work. This gets her very annoyed and we land up having to pack away which leads to tantrums and tears. I am home alone with the kids and we do not have transport to get to play centres/parks. It's too cold to let them play outside so we're stuck indoors! HELP!!!

Answer 1

The simplest things keep my children occupied 1 year old and 4 year old. One day I put a blanket over some chairs and made a fort, I couldn't believe how much my 4 year old loved playing in such a simple thing and it kept her busy for quite some time. Get some leggos the bigger sized ones and spill them out on the floor. Here are some things I found on the internet. You just gotta let them be kids make a mess and have fun....... A nice walk outdoors and exploring things you find (leaves, bugs, rocks) is another good idea or just walking around in your front yard, put some muddie buddies or snow pants on them and boots, warm jacket and let them explore your front yard or a walk around the block, a visit to a relatives house or someone that you could have a play date with. Our daycare takes our kids outside everyday no matter what weather and they have a blast of course they are dressed in the appropriate gear before going out, put on some snow pants or muddy buddies (pants with rain coat material), a hat, boots, and a warm jacket, gloves.
Here is the stuff I found on activities for indoors.
make playdough
Koolaid Claydough

1 package Koolaid (the kind where you add the sugar yourself)
1 cup flour
1/4 cup (yes, CUP) salt
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tbsp alum/cream of tartar
1/2 cup hot water

You can get the hot water by boiling a kettle or by running
your hot tap very hot, which is what I do. Dissolve everything
except the flour in the water. It has to be good and hot to
dissolve all that salt. Then add the flour, mix, and knead.
Resist the temptation to add a little more flour because it's
too sticky just keep kneading.

Have a Picnic in your house:
It's amazing how much your child learns with each activity—even at a Teddy Bear Picnic!


Materials:
• 1 or 2 teddy bears

• Sandwiches, drinks, cookies, and other treats

• Picnic basket

• Picnic blanket

What to do:
1. Have your child find his teddy bears and tell them they're going on a picnic.
2. Prepare sandwiches, snacks, and drinks together.
3. Pack the food into a picnic basket. Be sure to include a picnic blanket.
4. Hike to the park with your teddy bears and basket, and find a nice picnic spot or have one in your living room. Enjoy your lunch together while chatting about all sorts of things, and don't forget to include the bears in the conversation!

Letter Search
Your child will have fun running around the house searching for letter cards you've hidden. Each time he finds a letter he must say it aloud. Once he finds all the letters he can be rewarded with a small prize.


Mystery Box *
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Kids love a mystery. Create a mystery out of a simple box by hiding something mysterious inside!


Materials:
• Several non-breakable items familiar to your child such as his shoe, toy, doll, special cup, favorite book, and so on

• Paper bag

• Small box such as a shoebox

• Tape

What to do:
1. Collect several familiar items and place them in a paper bag so your child can’t see them.
2. Tell your child to close his eyes, then remove one item from the bag and place it in the box.
3. Close the lid, tape the box shut, and give it to your child to hold.
4. Tell him there’s something mysterious inside.
5. Let him feel the weight, shake the box, and think about it for a while.
6. Give him a clue about what’s inside and let him guess what it is.
7. Continue giving clues until he guesses the item correctly.
8. Open the box, reveal the item, and play again!

Safety: Be sure all items are safe to handle and not breakable.

Finger or sponge painting buy washable finger paints and use white paper plates (a great way to teach the colors too... )
We have snacktime, and then they might help me with some chores sweeping, dusting, etc.
During meal prep times, or whiny times, I have a few solutions...they sit at the table and do puzzles, pull out pots and pans and other kitchen gadgetry.
box of playclothes for dress up
books I took from the library on creative ideas for kids that are filled with simple and fun things to do.
construction paper, tape, scissors. They could play with this stuff for hours
macaroni tubes and string for making necklaces
the paintwithwater coloring books
helping to make bread, playing with the "real" dough
rubber food and play dishes
tape, art paper, scissors
lacing cards
simple puzzles
duplos (not swallowable) or legos
blowing bubbles
playdough
house made out of refrigerator box
playing with sudsy water
Your child will learn about letters and letter shapes when you make easy ABC bread snacks together.

All the senses come into play when you make bread letters with your child. She'll be helping you measure and mix the ingredients, knead the dough, and form the letters, perhaps copying them from a letter chart or letter tiles. While she's enjoying herself, she will also be taking in the delicious aromas that surround her and, when they come out of the oven, finally tasting the yummy results. Say the letters aloud as you shape the dough and you have created a complete sensory experience for your child.

What you need:

1 tbsp. quick-acting yeast
1 cup water
1 tsp. sugar
2 cups flour
1 tbsp. oil
Utensils:

measuring cup
wooden spoon
bowl
plastic knives and forks
craft sticks
wooden board
baking sheet
What to do:

The parent should preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and be in charge of using the oven.
Measure the water, sugar, and yeast into a bowl and mix. Wait two or three minutes for the yeast to soften.
Stir in one cup of flour. Then add the oil, salt and remaining cup of flour.
Sprinkle flour onto the wooden board. Place the dough on the board, and knead for about five minutes. You can add a bit of flour to the dough if it begins to stick to your hands.
Put the dough into the bowl and cover it, letting it rise for about 45 minutes.
Punch the dough down, and work it into a ball. Next, separate the dough into smaller portions.
Using the plastic knives, forks, and craft sticks, shape the dough into letters. You might shape the dough into the letters in your child's name, in the names of other family members, even in the names of family pets.
Place your letter shapes on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.
What your child can do:

Help you measure, pour, and mix the ingredients.
Test the yeast with a finger to see if it's soft.
Sprinkle flour onto the board and knead the dough.
Decide what letters shapes to make.
Help you shape the dough into letters, using letter tiles or an alphabet chart as a guide if needed.
Peek at the dough periodically to see how it's rising.
Teaching Tips:
While you're waiting for the dough to rise and the letters to bake, read an alphabet book together and sing the ABC song.

Fill a large plastic bin with different shaped dry pastas dry beans rice whatever you can buy least expensively. Give them cups and "sand" toys and you have a winter alternative to the sandbox. (Spread a sheet under the bin they will get it everywhere then you can just gather up the sheet and dump it back in the bin.)
Books on tape and stuff like that from the library.
Camp in the house. One of our tents can be set up without the stakes so we have camp outs in the living room and make smores in the microwave. You can always drape a blanket over a table.
Make a tower from paper cups as tall as you can. Then remove the bottom piece and watch it tumble.
Subscribe or go to Family Fun's website. They always have a ton of creative ideas to try!
Invite some friends over
Learn something new together.... A foreign language, an instrument, how to sew, candle making, jewelry making, typing, etc.....
Think up 100 things you can do besides watch TV
Ask a question and find the answer
Go to McDonald's playland and get a soda for the morning.
Movie night - a special night a week where we rent a kid-friendly movie and eat popcorn.
Take a nap (you can always try)
Make a teepee
Let them sort your spools of thread or stick pins into your pin cushion (if you think he wouldn't hurt himself).
Write on a white board we all like that!
Make your own word search puzzles
Make a book of favorite animals, trees, bugs, etc.
Kids' Aerobics Video.
Play basketball with the Little Tikes basketball hoop.
Line up cans etc and get a ball and bowl
Go to the local appliance store and get large refrigerator boxes etc and make big forts (similar to McDonald's playland...okay use your imagination). The kids can have hours of fun running through them turning off the lights and using flashlights getting dad to play monster and even sleeping in them. You can also decorate them with paint or turn them into cars etc. My kids love to "invent" stuff out of them. I have even seen playhouses made that include curtains wallpaper etc. Check your local library for "The Great Big Box Book" by Flo Ann Hedley Norvell.
Play chase
Chin up bar we put it in one of the boy's rooms. This also helps to get out energy. - Diane
Set up an obstacle course in the living room or the basement using chairs with pillows over them (kids crawled under) different things to make circles they could step in with different feet a jump rope and a mini-trampoline.
Play racquetball in the garage or cellar (as long as you don't mind ball marks all over your walls)
Have an indoor "snowball" fight. Divide; give each one a stack of newspapers yell go and they have to wad up the sheets of newspaper into "snowballs" and throw them. Great fun! Last part is seeing who can gather the most balls into a trash bag!
Jump on a mini trampoline
Clean out a drawer
Clean the house fold laundry do dishes vacuum the rug... - Hee Hee
Mend
Help a child re-organize or decorate his/her room
Let them sort your canned goods or jello boxes.
Plan a treasure hunt
Do a craft
Use large dry beans (limas etc.) and school glue and let him glue beans onto heavy paper or old folders. (You could dribble out a line of glue in the shape of something fun--a car for example--and then let him press the beans onto it.)
Save boxes and containers then give them a roll of foil and duct tape and let them create.
Make & send a card to someone who needs encouragement
Start a new collection of something (besides dust :o)
Color
Make and color paper dolls
Draw a picture together - take turns adding details
Grab a pencil a notebook and practice drawing as a family
Have him draw a picture and tell a story about it (you write down the story) and send it to Grandma.
Start early to plan homemade gift ideas for Christmas!
If he can cut give him some old magazines glue sticks paper and let him cut out pictures and glue them to paper.
Finger-paint with chocolate pudding on a paper plate then lick the plate clean :-)
Work on family photo album together
Perform an experiment
Play with the globe
Make play dough
Make puppets
Sew
Rubber Stamp
Bake or cook
Bake cookies and invite a neighbor over to help eat them
If you have a fireplace do a hotdog roast and make s'mores.
Have a picnic inside on the floor
Play board & card games!
Make up your own game
Charades
Play ‘How many things can you remember to do?’: Give them a list of activities and make the list longer each time. For example hop to the door knock on it 2 times crawl under the dining room table and do the crab walk back to me. If they successfully complete this then I name 5 things the next time.
Bake some goodies to take to your community's firemen or policemen & attach a card telling them how much you appreciate their work to keep us safe
Make a treat or meal for someone going through a hard time
Write a letter to a relative/friend
Play dress up
Put a blanket on the floor and pretend you are on boat fishing etc...
Play post office
Playing 'restaurant': make the menus set the table take orders serve (& clean up)
Play school: you are the student & kids take turns being the teacher
Play store
Have a tea party
Sing
Worship the Lord sing dance play instruments to God
Grab a pillow and a blanket and lay them in your lap and sing with them. (I just enjoyed this moment with my two-year-old.)
Make music (pots and pans etc)
Write your own praise songs with everyone contributing lines; make your own instruments to play as you sing!
Tell a story (can't use a book).
Listen to a story on tape (we love Adventure in Odyssey!)
Play cars
Give them a wide roll of masking tape and let them go to town making "roads" for Matchbox cars.
Play cars
Yahtzee or Uno
K'nex!
Legos are a major attraction and my kids spend hours creating cars etc...
Puzzles are contagious. Just start one on the table and they won't be able to keep away from it!
Learn to do tricks with a yo yo
Fill the tub or sink w/water & float boats
Long playtime in the bath (I use the baby monitor so I can keep an ear out for any trouble he may have or for if he needs me).
"Washing" dishes at the sink--get a big pan of soapy water some plastic bowls and cups and let him stand on a chair and play. This would keep some of my kids busy for 45 minutes or so.
Write a story
Write postcards or better yet a letter
Make a family "newspaper" of recent events or happenings

Answer 2

I can give you hints on what works for me. My kids were spaced and so are my grandkids, but it really works great once you have a system.

The 5 year old is in the age where she is a helper and your 18 month old is in ange where they like attention, especially from the BIG SISTER.

Let her know that she is the Big Sister and that he copies everything that she does and just loves her to pieces that is why he is bugging her. This she will understand.

Then ask her if she thinks that she can help you with him and maybe the two of you can come up with enough ideas of things to do to keep him occupied and you two (buddy system) can work together to occupy him. She will come up with a ton of things that you and me wouldn't even think of!!

Then, when he is asleep, ask her if she would like to do her painting before hewakes up or if she would like to help you.
Give her a choice as to how she would like to spend her 'free' time.

They can also help you clean the house!! Believe it or not, they like to help mom, you just have to make a game of it and realize that things aren't going to be perfect.

Give the 18 month old a clothes basket and hand him things to put in the basket, Have the 5 year old take things that are in the wrong place and at least get them put into the right room.

Hide something in the room that the 5 year old has to find....then she gets a treat when he is sleeping.

You and your daughter can wash dishes while your son plays with cars on the floor.

Take paper bags and draw masks or a suit of armor and let their imaginations run wild. The 5 year old will come up with something and the 18 month old will just run around the house because they like the noise and the idea of something new on their little bodies.

Buy two little rakes at the dollar store and get outside and wnjoy the weather. The 5 year old can help to rake around shrubs and trees and the 18 month old will 'help' in his own little fashion.

No matter how you look at it, all that counts is that they are helping mommy.....

Answer 3

You need a written schedule. A poster on the wall or fridge, with activities planned. i.e.

10 am - snack
10:30 - story time
11:00 - block play
12:00 - lunch
etc etc.

Move them along from activity to activity. Usually whining and fussing is due to boredom.

Maybe plan painting time for your older when the younger is napping, then she won't get interrupted.

Congrats on being home with them. It's a gift many mother's don't get to experience. I know it's not easy (I'm home with 3), but it's the best think you can do with them.

Answer 4

You could always find fun and interesting things for your 5 year old to do independently so that you can concentrate more on your 18month old who needs more attention. Let your 5 year old paint, or put together a scavenger hunt in the house for her while you entertain your 18 month old. You could throw a "pool party" in the bath tub for both of them. Give them lots of bath toys that they can both play with. Pretend to go camping. Help them build a fort out of chairs and blankets. Let them pick out stories for you to read to them. Let your 5 year old write or pick out some songs to sing. You could give the 18month old a pot or pan and a wooden spoon as an improvisational instrument so that he can play along.

Answer 5

I would encourage you to take them outside regardless from cold. Just bundle them up. The fresh air does wonders to a whining child. Take a stroller for the little one and walk around your house for at least 45 min. twice a day.

Answer 6

ok.
1. so why don't you make them watch some cartoon chanels.
2. do some fun cooking with them like make some cookies where you daughter can do big jobes like rolling out and you can do the baking and then they both can decorate it and have a inside picnic.
3.the age difference is a problem so why don't you keep them both in different rooms and you can stay with you son as he is small and your daughter can do paiting etc.

Answer 7

my daughter is 5 and my son 13 every weekend i am all alone with them at the house, but for me it is easy my daughter loves playing mommy so she takes little bro and pretends he is her son. that way they play for hours on end and my son loves the attention he is getting from his sister.

why don't you play with your son and his cars and trucks while your daughter paints in a other room? let her entertain herself and you keep him busy. once he is asleep spend time with your daughter