Maybe it’s the end of the day. Or the end of the week.
Maybe you, like me, are stuck home with sinuses so stuffed that your head feels suspiciously like a watermelon bobbing around as you try to deal with two small children by yourself.
Either way, you know the feeling. You just.can’t.take.it.anymore. The arguing, the whining, the recklessness as busy bodies try to hurl themselves off your couch head first just because they can.
This is when most of us rely on the tv. Netflix (yes, I still love them) lets you stream a ton of quality children’s programming, like Sesame Street and Blues Clues.
But if you’re a better parent than I am and never watch TV with your little ones, here are some other things you can try.
For very little time, effort, and money:
Turn on some music and dance. Pull out some instruments if you have them, or even the pots and pans if it’s dinner that you’re desperately trying to throw together. Make it something you like to dance to (so you can ditch the kiddie music, with my blessing) and go to town. If you have little ones, they will dance and laugh with you. If you have tweens or teens, they’ll laugh at you. Either way everyone will be laughing instead of whining. Shake it like a Polaroid picture, anyone? http://www.facebook.com/v/1200058801696
Skype someone. Ideally it should be a family member or beloved friend who doesn’t mind if your kids get way too close to the computer or tell long, rambling stories. You can get into the conversation, or just set up the computer or iPad or whatever and make dinner read blogs sit down for five minutes.
Build a fort. If you don’t mind the mess, this can keep them busy for an hour or more. Here’s a little YouTube inspiration for you from a local band that knows all about being stuck indoors.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li4oMW3yxA4]
Make an obstacle course. I use couch cushions, pillows, blocks, my exercise steps that are otherwise gathering dust…whatever. I set up things for them to run around, jump over, and climb. You can even time them to see how fast they can get through it. Make sure you set it up away from skull-cracking objects of all sorts, of course.
Get outside. If it’s rainy where you are, like it is where I am 75% or more of the year, you can put on the full rain-gear and go puddle-jumping. Or you can just break out the sidewalk chalk and draw on your covered porch or deck. Either way, the change of scene and fresh air will do everyone good.
For a little more time, effort, and/or money…
Break out the “new” toy bin. No, these needn’t be new toys. They should just be some stuff you stashed away for at least a week. Yes, this one needs a wee bit of planning ahead, but most of us put stuff in a closet or somewhere and forget about it for a while. This is your moment to pull it back out. It’s like going to Toys R Us, but without going anywhere or spending any money.
Do some easy art. You know, coloring book and crayons. Or, if you want to be fancier, get some stuff on sale at Michaels or Target the next time you go – like stickers, foam shapes, or melting beads – then hide them until the next witching hour. My current favorite thing is dot painting. You get that paint that looks like it’s a bingo marker, so it just makes colored dots all over some paper. No paintbrushes or water or anything else needed. Grab any paper, seriously, and by the time they’re done, it will have become something cute to hang up or use as wrapping paper.
Bake. The kids like to help cook, sure, but nothing chases away the blues like baking. It can be healthy if you’re the wholesome, crunchy type who only eats whole-grains. Pumpkin muffins, for example, or whole-grain banana bread. Or it can be chocolate-chip cookies from store-bought dough. Either way, unhappy frowns will definitely disappear when you pull out the mixing bowls and get to work on dessert.
E-books. These days there are great e-books for kids, especially iPhone or iPad apps and Nook books. These cost some money, but less than you’d expect, and the narrators read the book to the kids so you can finish up your cookies laundry.
Worst-case scenario?
Call for reinforcements. After using almost all of these tricks today, I had to beg my husband to come home so I could be alone with my watermelon head and my box of tissues. Bonus: he even brought me cookies in bed. Hope he doesn’t mind the crumbs…
How about you? Any suggestions for how to cure the common blues?
It’s been so long since my kids were young enough to need me to entertain them like this… I kind of miss it. I no longer have fancy cable, just broadcast with netflix, but I remember when I had the full monty, we’d put on one of the music channels and dance around the living room. Another time, probably 15 years ago now, I was babysitting my nieces. They’d just moved into a new house and had no furniture in the living room and we “did ballet” across the empty room all afternoon. They talked about it for years, “Aunt Leigh, remember that time…” Kids LOVE to dance!
Oh that is JUST the worst. When your tank is on empty and your head is full and you just want to crawl back into bed. Audio books are fantastic! I’m not one of those anti-TV moms as long as it’s “good” television (sorry, I’m flawed…I grew up in front of Sesame Street and I’m relatively normal!), but The Boy loves audio books and I can pretty much lose myself in the stories as well! Hope you’re feeling better!
I just love these ideas! I have definitely done the skype one, if only to pass the time. And me and my brothers loved to build forts as kids. I hope to pass that one when my little guy is older. Thanks for the sweet comment! 🙂
So sorry you are sick–sinus infections are one of my least favorite things. I liked your ideas! My kids love dance parties and pot banging! And we are long overdue to make a fort. Maybe this week–we all have colds.
Ah, music – it really does wonders for mood lifting!
Such nice tips! I very often go for the TV when it’s THAT BAD. That being said, a good dance party will cure almost anything. Especially when I can be on the couch as an “audience” member!
I think going outside in the sun is the best cure I have found for the blues although it only works when the sun is out.
Sounds like some great ideas! We don’t do tv or video games much here. I’m way better at choosing these other ideas. One of these days I’m going to figure out how to use Skype.
Sandy
Well I for one am not a better parent than you. We do allow TV and sometimes, especially when the parent is sick, it is like a godsend!! We turn music on too. Feel better soon!
I love these suggestions!
I do many of them, but a few hadn’t occurred to me.
I also had the evil sinuses and its pals The Cough and Laryngitis for a while.
I’m sure you know how hard it is to wrangle the kids without the power of The Voice.
Even with my voice back, last Wednesday, I couldn’t take it anymore, and had to call in a friend for reinforcement (see: Mommy Time Bomb).
Because sadly, by the time I really want to turn on that TV, they’ve done things where it would be rewarding the behavior, and that is a message I’d prefer to avoid at all costs.
They’re too smart…
I love building a fort with my kids. It will occupy them for a long time and they really enjoy it!
Such great ideas relayed in a clever way. Hope you don’t mind, I share via Macaroni Kid on FB