SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

The more free time I spend at home, I am beginning to see that being a SAHM is the hardest job in the world - WAY more work than I ever thought it would be. It's great to spend so much time with DC but I often get very frustrated because I feel like sometimes we just sit in a room all day. My son is in the crawling - walking stage so my eyes have to be on him 24/7. He is too young for "crafts" as he puts everything in his mouth. He is very demanding of attention and he isn't the type to sit and play with his toys for more than 10 minutes. And there are only so many places we can go - Gymboree, the mall, walking around, etc. I am going stir crazy and need some ideas on what to do with a 10 month old? Please, any ideas welcome!!

Message edited 10/9/2007 9:04:53 AM.

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

I do everything you mentioned. We go on walks, to the stores, some classes at Little Gym, and now I joined the library class once a week with him.
Honestly, I was going a bit crazy too. I was home 5 months and decided to take on a PT job. That gets me out of the house for a little while and it helps.
DS will be 9 months old next week. I am totally dreading the winter.

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

Do you have any SAHM friends? I started going on "playdates" when Jack was 4 months old after joining a local moms group. Lunches and coffee dates with other moms is a nice break from playing with baby all day.

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

We do playdates with friends...I do a lot of singing and dancing...a lot of sticking our tongue out games... we have Music Together classes on Wed... walks... shopping....some tv....anything to keep her occupied

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

if there are any sahms in the holbrook area, let me know if you want to do a little play group..i loove being home with dd - she is 5 1/2 mths but need more things to do and not sure what to do either.

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

I'll describe some of the activities we do all day if we are stuck in the house all day.

These are some of our activities...

1. flashcards (animals, numbers, pictures from nature) for 2 minutes just to get them looking and expose them to hearing different vocabulary.

2. Color book (maybe 5 minutes)... each page is dedicated to a different color with items on that page of that color. I quickly flip through each page, saying the color then we go back and each day I'll pick out a different "theme" of items of that color on each page... food, animals, clothes, vehicles, etc.

3. ABC book... rhyming scheme describing every letter (1-2 minutes.

4. Play on the floor.
Describe the blocks, colors, textures. Let them explore with the toys/teethers.

5. Play "Zoo"... Line up their stuffed animals or toys of different animals and mommy imitates the sound the animal makes, describe it to them, tells them where the animals lives, etc. They touch and feel the animal. Repeat the sound to get them to imitate it.

6. Flashlight game... We close the shades, dim the lights and I shine a flashlight on different object in the room. I name the object. Sometimes we do a theme... things that make noise, things of a certain shape, etc.

7. Fun with Laundry. I 1/2 fill a laundry basket with clothes, towel, etc. put them in the basket and let them explore the textures of the fabrics.
Or I'll wear certain items of clothing wrong... put my pants on my head. They really know now what "looks right" and will laugh when it isn't.

8. House tour... (this is harder for me to do because I can't carry both around, usually only do this on weekends when DH is around). I carry around one DC from room to room explaining things in the room. I take their hand and turn on lightswitches to demonstrate cause and effect, play peek-a-boo with drapes, name the colors on the walls, explain pics on walls.

9. The Important People Book... I made up a small photo album of all of our friends and relatives with pictures of them approx. the same size. Under each pic is the person's name. WE flip through the book, I say the name and tell a quick story about the person. Ask them where is GRandma etc.

10. Oh, what's that smell? game... I take a couple of food items, safe liquids, put them in cups and let them smell different things. I never let them hold the cup or reach in and touch the item. I did this with mint and a slice of lemon the other day.

11. Sing along, hand plays (itsy-bitsy spider, Where is Thumbkin?) etc.

12. Read books. I try to get ones with some factual info as well. They won't understand them but it exposes them to different vocabulary.

13. Hand puppets

14. Starting to teach them some sign language for better communication through toddlerhood.

There are some days we never get to the exersaucer and jumperoo.

Can you tell I'm a teacher

HTH

ETA: If I'm cleaning out the dishwasher or putting away groceries, I'll name the items, coun t how many bowls I'm putting away, compare items... Oh, these bowls are small, these bowls are large... this is silver, this is white, etc.

Message edited 10/8/2007 10:01:56 PM.

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

I'll describe some of the activities we do all day if we are stuck in the house all day.

These are some of our activities...

1. flashcards (animals, numbers, pictures from nature) for 2 minutes just to get them looking and expose them to hearing different vocabulary.

2. Color book (maybe 5 minutes)... each page is dedicated to a different color with items on that page of that color. I quickly flip through each page, saying the color then we go back and each day I'll pick out a different "theme" of items of that color on each page... food, animals, clothes, vehicles, etc.

3. ABC book... rhyming scheme describing every letter (1-2 minutes.

4. Play on the floor.
Describe the blocks, colors, textures. Let them explore with the toys/teethers.

5. Play "Zoo"... Line up their stuffed animals or toys of different animals and mommy imitates the sound the animal makes, describe it to them, tells them where the animals lives, etc. They touch and feel the animal. Repeat the sound to get them to imitate it.

6. Flashlight game... We close the shades, dim the lights and I shine a flashlight on different object in the room. I name the object. Sometimes we do a theme... things that make noise, things of a certain shape, etc.

7. Fun with Laundry. I 1/2 fill a laundry basket with clothes, towel, etc. put them in the basket and let them explore the textures of the fabrics.
Or I'll wear certain items of clothing wrong... put my pants on my head. They really know now what "looks right" and will laugh when it isn't.

8. House tour... (this is harder for me to do because I can't carry both around, usually only do this on weekends when DH is around). I carry around one DC from room to room explaining things in the room. I take their hand and turn on lightswitches to demonstrate cause and effect, play peek-a-boo with drapes, name the colors on the walls, explain pics on walls.

9. The Important People Book... I made up a small photo album of all of our friends and relatives with pictures of them approx. the same size. Under each pic is the person's name. WE flip through the book, I say the name and tell a quick story about the person. Ask them where is GRandma etc.

10. Oh, what's that smell? game... I take a couple of food items, safe liquids, put them in cups and let them smell different things. I never let them hold the cup or reach in and touch the item. I did this with mint and a slice of lemon the other day.

11. Sing along, hand plays (itsy-bitsy spider, Where is Thumbkin?) etc.

12. Read books. I try to get ones with some factual info as well. They won't understand them but it exposes them to different vocabulary.

13. Hand puppets

14. Starting to teach them some sign language for better communication through toddlerhood.

There are some days we never get to the exersaucer and jumperoo.

Can you tell I'm a teacher

HTH

ETA: If I'm cleaning out the dishwasher or putting away groceries, I'll name the items, coun t how many bowls I'm putting away, compare items... Oh, these bowls are small, these bowls are large... this is silver, this is white, etc.

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

I'll describe some of the activities we do all day if we are stuck in the house all day.

These are some of our activities...

1. flashcards (animals, numbers, pictures from nature) for 2 minutes just to get them looking and expose them to hearing different vocabulary.

2. Color book (maybe 5 minutes)... each page is dedicated to a different color with items on that page of that color. I quickly flip through each page, saying the color then we go back and each day I'll pick out a different "theme" of items of that color on each page... food, animals, clothes, vehicles, etc.

3. ABC book... rhyming scheme describing every letter (1-2 minutes.

4. Play on the floor.
Describe the blocks, colors, textures. Let them explore with the toys/teethers.

5. Play "Zoo"... Line up their stuffed animals or toys of different animals and mommy imitates the sound the animal makes, describe it to them, tells them where the animals lives, etc. They touch and feel the animal. Repeat the sound to get them to imitate it.

6. Flashlight game... We close the shades, dim the lights and I shine a flashlight on different object in the room. I name the object. Sometimes we do a theme... things that make noise, things of a certain shape, etc.

7. Fun with Laundry. I 1/2 fill a laundry basket with clothes, towel, etc. put them in the basket and let them explore the textures of the fabrics.
Or I'll wear certain items of clothing wrong... put my pants on my head. They really know now what "looks right" and will laugh when it isn't.

8. House tour... (this is harder for me to do because I can't carry both around, usually only do this on weekends when DH is around). I carry around one DC from room to room explaining things in the room. I take their hand and turn on lightswitches to demonstrate cause and effect, play peek-a-boo with drapes, name the colors on the walls, explain pics on walls.

9. The Important People Book... I made up a small photo album of all of our friends and relatives with pictures of them approx. the same size. Under each pic is the person's name. WE flip through the book, I say the name and tell a quick story about the person. Ask them where is GRandma etc.

10. Oh, what's that smell? game... I take a couple of food items, safe liquids, put them in cups and let them smell different things. I never let them hold the cup or reach in and touch the item. I did this with mint and a slice of lemon the other day.

11. Sing along, hand plays (itsy-bitsy spider, Where is Thumbkin?) etc.

12. Read books. I try to get ones with some factual info as well. They won't understand them but it exposes them to different vocabulary.

13. Hand puppets

14. Starting to teach them some sign language for better communication through toddlerhood.

There are some days we never get to the exersaucer and jumperoo.

Can you tell I'm a teacher

HTH

ETA: If I'm cleaning out the dishwasher or putting away groceries, I'll name the items, coun t how many bowls I'm putting away, compare items... Oh, these bowls are small, these bowls are large... this is silver, this is white, etc.

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

What great ideas!! Thanks so much for sharing. How old are your children?

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

I totally miss playdates with my SAHM friends. We also would go to the mommy movie in our neighborhood. DD would take her nap then but she was younger. We also took a million walks- sometimes up to 10 miles a day. She loved that. But we also have good weather year round. I don't know how you guys do winter with a baby. I seriously would lose my mind.

I miss being at home but I think I would rather work and then have my baby time when I get home at 4pm. I think we have a better time than when I was home all day. I never take her for granted.
I admit it- I prefer working- I think being a SAHM is the HARDEST job in the world. And this is from someone who is a single parent about half the month.

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

Posted by MommyofG

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

I'll describe some of the activities we do all day if we are stuck in the house all day.

These are some of our activities...

1. flashcards (animals, numbers, pictures from nature) for 2 minutes just to get them looking and expose them to hearing different vocabulary.

2. Color book (maybe 5 minutes)... each page is dedicated to a different color with items on that page of that color. I quickly flip through each page, saying the color then we go back and each day I'll pick out a different "theme" of items of that color on each page... food, animals, clothes, vehicles, etc.

3. ABC book... rhyming scheme describing every letter (1-2 minutes.

4. Play on the floor.
Describe the blocks, colors, textures. Let them explore with the toys/teethers.

5. Play "Zoo"... Line up their stuffed animals or toys of different animals and mommy imitates the sound the animal makes, describe it to them, tells them where the animals lives, etc. They touch and feel the animal. Repeat the sound to get them to imitate it.

6. Flashlight game... We close the shades, dim the lights and I shine a flashlight on different object in the room. I name the object. Sometimes we do a theme... things that make noise, things of a certain shape, etc.

7. Fun with Laundry. I 1/2 fill a laundry basket with clothes, towel, etc. put them in the basket and let them explore the textures of the fabrics.
Or I'll wear certain items of clothing wrong... put my pants on my head. They really know now what "looks right" and will laugh when it isn't.

8. House tour... (this is harder for me to do because I can't carry both around, usually only do this on weekends when DH is around). I carry around one DC from room to room explaining things in the room. I take their hand and turn on lightswitches to demonstrate cause and effect, play peek-a-boo with drapes, name the colors on the walls, explain pics on walls.

9. The Important People Book... I made up a small photo album of all of our friends and relatives with pictures of them approx. the same size. Under each pic is the person's name. WE flip through the book, I say the name and tell a quick story about the person. Ask them where is GRandma etc.

10. Oh, what's that smell? game... I take a couple of food items, safe liquids, put them in cups and let them smell different things. I never let them hold the cup or reach in and touch the item. I did this with mint and a slice of lemon the other day.

11. Sing along, hand plays (itsy-bitsy spider, Where is Thumbkin?) etc.

12. Read books. I try to get ones with some factual info as well. They won't understand them but it exposes them to different vocabulary.

13. Hand puppets

14. Starting to teach them some sign language for better communication through toddlerhood.

There are some days we never get to the exersaucer and jumperoo.

Can you tell I'm a teacher

HTH

ETA: If I'm cleaning out the dishwasher or putting away groceries, I'll name the items, coun t how many bowls I'm putting away, compare items... Oh, these bowls are small, these bowls are large... this is silver, this is white, etc.

wow!!!

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

We get out a lot.
Right now we're doing gymnastics and we have playgroup once a week. I also go to the Y a few times a week to workout so she goes in the childcare there.
We also try to do individual playdates.
I will say I am not good at "playing". I try to read to DD but I have a hard time playing with her with some of her toys. We do flashcards and color and things like that.

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

great post b/c as a new SAHM i think about this every day and i truly cannot believe how hard it is to do this job! i don;t know what i expected it to be!! DD is only almost 4m. and doesn't do much. i move her around from activity mat, swing, bouncy, bumbo-read books, watch noggin, used to go for walks but she hates that now and we go out to the store EVERY day. i don't care where just to get out. we also visit my moms and sister's every day too which is my life saver b/c DD is not an "easy" child and i need a break. we also just joined a library class too. next year i am going back to work and get off at 2:30-like CKGM said, i think i will appreciate my time w/ DD more. i actually miss working but love being w/ DD all the same....

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

OMG, Theresea, I need a drink after reading that exhaustive list

Re: SAHM's...what do you DO with DC all day?

OK, let me clarify... I don't do all of it everyday but on days where we are inside more than out and about I try to do at least a few.

My kids are pretty religious nappers so that eats up about 3-4 hours of the day, then double feeedings and diaper changes, it's not hours and hours

I also believe in "free play" w/o mommy because as they get older I want them to be able to play w/o me, especially when I go back to work. They are on the blanket on the floor doing "tummy time"
and now rolling over here and there more often than anything.

For all of you looking for ideas, babycenter.com offers activities (week by week of your child's development) that you can do with them. And of ourse, Parents magazine has great ideas too.

Like everyone else, some days I have more energy than others and well, on the tired days, there is more free play