Sundays and Little Girls

amother

OP ↓

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 4:24 pm

Happy Sunday!

We’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel here… it’s supper time already!

What do your little girls do on Sunday?

I am trying to make a 4 week rotation of activities… here’s my list so far… (looking for cheap ideas without major prep…)

Colorful cheerios necklaces
Sort colorful sprinkles by color
Kinder blast free fun page (there’s a new page every week related to parshah)
Coloring pages

Paint, clay, etc… are too much of a mess maker to do unsupervised… I work and need them to be happy, stimulated, and entertained…

Any and all ideas I would really appreciate!

ETA for ppl only reading OP - I work from home on Sundays..

amother

Electricblue ↓

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 4:39 pm

We try to get out around 11, even if it’s just to go pick up milk. We also send them outside to play as much as possible.
Other activities:
Rainbow loom, Lego, perler beads. Decorating big boxes with dot art/ paint sticks/ stickers.
We also do all our baking on Sunday.
But mostly we have 1 parent in charge of kids at any given time.

amother

Goldenrod ↓

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 4:44 pm

Why stay home all day? Go out!

SingALong

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 4:47 pm

Dentist appointments
Dr appointments
Haircuts
Errands, even the grocery
Baking
Crafts

Play dates
Relax at home with toys, enjoying the no structure, no rushing around with school schedule

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 4:56 pm

DH and I both work on Sundays…

I work from home bh…

Going out is not an option…

Same with perlar beads or any other choking hazards…

amother

Aster

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 4:59 pm

Playdates.

amother

↑ Electricblue ↓

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 5:42 pm

amother OP wrote:

DH and I both work on Sundays…

I work from home bh…

Going out is not an option…

Same with perlar beads or any other choking hazards…

If your kids are young enough that perler heads are still a choking hazard, you need at least a teen to supervise them while both parents are working. You have unrealistic expectations of toddlers.

(Fwiw, my husband and I both have to work 2 hours on Sunday to make up from Friday- he works 9:30-11:30 and I work 12-2).

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 5:46 pm

amother Electricblue wrote:

If your kids are young enough that perler heads are still a choking hazard, you need at least a teen to supervise them while both parents are working. You have unrealistic expectations of toddlers.

They’re 4 and 7.

amother

↑ Electricblue

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 5:47 pm

amother OP wrote:

They’re 4 and 7.

Then unless they’re particularly impulsive (in which case they need supervision) you should be able to trust them with perler beads / rainbow loom etc.

But at those ages you shouldn’t expect more than an hour of self entertainment total. Can you hire a girl to take them to the park for an hour?

amother

Leaf

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 5:52 pm

We have a Sunday rotation in my neighborhood with 8 girls so I have to entertain once in 2 months. It’s 2 hours. Then lunch and I try to get out with them.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 6:03 pm

amother Electricblue wrote:

They’re not impulsive I just have a baby that knows how to get things out from under the fridge. No baby is not left unsupervised.

I don’t know expect more than 4 20-30 min sessions of self entertainment….

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 6:04 pm

amother Leaf wrote:

We have a Sunday rotation in my neighborhood with 8 girls so I have to entertain once in 2 months. It’s 2 hours. Then lunch and I try to get out with them.

That sounds awesome!

I live in an extremely quiet neighborhood, no girls my girls age. High school girls have school on Sundays, working girls want their Sunday off..

Deep Blue

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 7:22 pm

My three and four year old girls can spend hours cutting gluing stapling stamping... yes it makes a mess but the cleanup time in proportion to playtime is very worthwhile to me. We also do homemade paper books. We've never done coloring pages and been doing this kind of thing since 2 so they by now they are pretty creative and self entertaining. Occasionally paint sticks and dot art. Reusable sticker books are an idea for special project.

amother

Magenta

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 7:33 pm

amother Goldenrod wrote:

Why stay home all day? Go out!

Where?
I'm in Brooklyn. In the winter it's too cold to go for too long of a walk.
There aren't places to go hang out.
Where do you go?
I am limited on time because some kids do go out on Sundays. From when last kid leaves until first one comes home is 3 hours. So traveling isn't an option

meeze

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 8:12 pm

Following

amother

↑ OP

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 8:12 pm

Deep Blue wrote:

What do you mean by homemade paper books?

amother

Forsythia

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 8:22 pm

Yes, sunday is such a tough day bh!! I really do agree with it and I am so exhausted now.. but I really do try to keep the situation under control and happy...

Firstly, theres eating and feeding all day

Then, I involve my kids in house work- whatever I'm cooking, cleaning, laundry- sorting, transferring, hanging. They really enjoy this and these are throughout the day chores...

I bathe them before they get dressed in the "morning" (they get dressed after 12 sometimes!) and let them play in the bath, this is an amazing time consumer in the winter

My girls bh bh love to color, I have stocked up a bunch of cheap coloring/sticker activities that I buy in amazing savings. also color papers and all kind of pencils, markers, stamps

toys are exciting only sometimes, dont forget they just played with toys all shabbos...

I usually go out when dh is available and once my son gets home from cheder, around 2:30. sometimes its 2 silly errands, its just that everyone should get fresh air

today we went to the park, it was freezing so we left after few min and visited family instead

bedtime needs to be so punctual because at that point im ready to..........

I turn on cd's through the zing app connected to a JBL bluetooth that the kids can take around the house with them, they love listening to stories

happy sunday everyone!

amother

↑ Goldenrod

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 8:52 pm

amother Magenta wrote:

I don’t live in Brooklyn but I use culture pass a lot. so many free museums including children's ones are free. If you have a library open that’s perfect . Get pizza, ice cream or hot Chocolate. Ride the city bus to a different neighborhood. Indoor play space. Check out Mommy Poppins for tons of great ideas more specific to your neighborhood

Seashell

Sun, Jan 12 2025, 9:19 pm

Little girls are so fun Very Happy

I'd switch off between sensory / crafty activities at the table, and creative play in your playroom or wherever.

For crafts and sensory activities here's some ideas:

1. Wiki sticks are a great non messy option. Get a large pack, perhaps with an activity booklet for ideas. Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.....ss_tl

2. A water mat is another fun one!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H.....ss_tl

3. This can get messy, but I find it worth it because of how long it can keep them busy. Playdough with fun accessories/ themed sets like a bakery etc. If you are worried about pieces falling with your baby, make a home made one. Use a disposable table cloth, and disposable pans or trays to minimize mess.

4. Foil art, no glue, paint or markers!
This is more for the 7 year old...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.....ss_tl

5. Buy a large quantity of very cheap crafts and either do a craft day once a month, or pull out one or two each Sunday. Eichlers has a great selection of cheap mess free $1 -$3 crafts: velvet color in sheets, scratch art, foil art, string / sewing pages, sticker scenes, wooden 3D shapes to color etc.
https://www.eichlers.com/child......html

6. Sticker books with reusable sticker scenes. You can find cute Jewish themed ones on Eichlers or kinderblast.

Creative play:

While the sensory stuff is exciting and new, I find creative play can lead to longer entertainment, so don't overlook that, especially at this age!

Some ideas:
1. Invest in a few really cute 18 inch dolls, like the target brand. And every other week or so buy new cheap accessories from dollar tree / target / Amazon, and set it up neatly and attractively so its new and exciting. Most girls that age can spend hours in imaginary land Smile

. Clothing, food, furniture etc.

2. Same idea as above but with dress up, real purses, fake money / wallets, high heels, fake makeup, hair play sets -some come with blow dryers that actually blow.

3. Invest in really elaborate Lego duplo sets. These are an underrated treasure, but you gotta get some really big fun theme sets. We had a huge "fair" set that kept my kids busy for months. There's following the instructions to put it together, and then getting creative with actual play. Best part is no choking hazards. The 7 year old can take the lead in the building, and both can play. I found the very elaborate sets can be enjoyed easily by 7-8 year olds too!

4. Depending on your kids personalities, the 4 year old may be ready for some board games / match up games with her big sis.

Good luck!! Hope your girls have fun and you get in some productive time!!