Surprise, surprise it’s been raining here again for the last couple of days. I had no idea that on average it rains 160 days a year in the UK. I don’t know about you, but I find these days to be very challenging. There are a lot of great ideas for indoor play online; play dough, cooking, crafts, imaginative play and if all else fails CBeebies.
However, as my daughter is pacing up and down like a caged animal I find myself desperately needing to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. Yes, I could bundle her up in her all and one, wellies and brave the rain but I really don’t fancy it sometimes.
There are a lot of much needed indoor soft play centres but I can’t face them on a rainy day, especially school holidays. There’s always the danger that I’ll have an altercation with a parent whose rambunctious child flattens my daughter in an area that they shouldn’t be in, in the first place. So, I’ve been racking my brain for some ideas that won’t break the bank.
This is not an attempt at ‘look at me aren’t I a wonderful mum’ but I’m genuinely desperate for low cost ideas and this is just to get the ball rolling. Here are a few ideas that I’ve come up with, it’s definitely not exhaustive and please do add to the list. I would be most grateful.
A few weeks ago we went to Hamley’s in London. It was brilliant. You could easily waste an hour or two and there’s no danger of buying anything, as it’s all outrageously overpriced. Yes, the trip into London will cost you, but you could also visit a store local to you; Toys R Us, The Early Learning Centre and a favourite of ours is Wilko’s.
We ventured to a garden centre today. Result! Madame loved running up and down the aisles of plants, but it also had animals, an aquatic centre and an adventure playground display. They don’t need to know that I have no intention of buying a Wendy house for £5000.
Local Farm Shop/Butchers
We tend to buy our meat from our local butcher (Hedges, in St Albans). Not only great prices but we can also have a look around the farm (cows, sheep, lambs, etc). I’m not looking forward to the day she makes the connection between the lambs and the ones in the refrigerated display!
I haven’t been yet, but thinking of venturing down tomorrow. They have cats, dogs, and fowl. I’m terrified of dogs but hopefully I can coax a friend (@elladickson) to come along so she can go into the dog kennels.
Don’t worry about bringing home a stray, as they don’t allow families with children under 5 to adopt. Shucks!
This is another one that I haven’t tried yet. But, I think a shop full of tents set up would be a huge hit, slight danger of losing her but you don’t have to travel to Scotland and freeze your butt off on a mountain side!
I can’t wait to hear your ideas. Don’t understimate yourself, I’m sure your ideas are brilliant!