Completely understand. This is a tough age! Handling them by yourself is easier said than done! Have you found a good soft playground nearby? Or is there some sort of play place? How about the library? Some neighborhoods have nice enclosed playgrounds for that young age. Keep searching! Nature Centers are great places to go and free!... they often have playrooms for kids. We go to barnes and noble or the pet store a lot for free entertainment. But, it is definitely easier when it is just one kid verses two.

Recently, I found with my almost 2 year old, having a cd of kids songs playing in the playroom helps. She seems less needy.. I guess it distracts her just enough to play by herself.

Dance parties are always welcome. Bubbles. Be sure to rotate the toys!

And no judgment here for the occasional tv session.

The pool is hard with two at that age when all of you are tired and they are running in different directions. I tried a couple years ago packing food and the pool was too much for me. Try it if you are comfortable. I loved giving baths before dinner. It got it out of the way and relaxed them a bit. They are older now but still like to shower right after camp and before they eat if we aren't going anywhere in the evening.

Why not pick them up a little later?

Anonymous wrote:Exercise videos or dance videos - Zumba in particular might be fun. Or maybe building a fort out of those cardboard blocks, setting him to work dusting baseboards (saw that tip on here somewhere), hiding stuff for him to find?

Great idea. You could also try the GoNoodle website for free dance/exercise videos for kids. Our DD's first grade teacher uses it to do a quick, mid-morning "move your body" break. There are individual songs and a longer mix of clips (called Indoor Recess, I think.) Our kids love it!

I also bring snacks with me for them to eat in the car on the way home from daycare. Small baggies with cut up apples, grapes or carrots. Or crackers, cereal or pretzels. I find that helps a lot.

Speaking of food, we sometimes put out "appetizers" for the kids while we're getting dinner ready. But it's almost always cut up veggies (carrots, green beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, or even broccoli or cauliflower). Sometimes plain, sometimes with hummus or dip. The kids love it , the food keeps them busy, and of course it's a way to get a serving of veggies in even before dinner. They don't have to eat it if they don't want, but that's the only snack/appetizer they get before dinner. So they tend to give it a try.

thanks, everyone! DH cannot do pick up or get home earlier than 6 - it is what it is. I'm terrified to bring both kids to the pool together. Maybe when the little one is older, but right now he's wild. I love so many of these ideas! I'm definitely looking up zumba videos right now for the kids and seeing how to do a water activity outside (we don't have a yard or a balcony).