[missizii]

Engaging with small children is an actual skill set. - Play dates have been mentioned, and those are great ideas. - Go for a walk or a hike. Start small, take a water bottle. See if you can go longer next time. Have a theme: can we find a toad, shelf fungus, beetle, duck…? - Take advantage of library story time, check all local libraries - Join the local pool, there is nothing that will cheer up a grumpy 4 year old like swimming, and they sleep well afterward - Bath time can be any time and an hour long if they are having fun - Read picture books from the library and take them back when you’re tired of them - Give them simple tasks like tearing lettuce for dinner, folding wash cloths and towels, putting away books or toys when you’re done with them. 4 year olds are eager to help because that makes them feel big. - Ride the bus for a loop and talk about what you see - Do a collaborative drawing (look at artful parent website) - Learn a song with motions. Invent new words and motions for it. - Playdough - Watercolors - Kick and throw balls - Enormous cardboard box with markers and dollar store stickers - Puzzles - Puppets (read the bio of Mr. Rogers for inspiration) - Silly music dance party

Hopefully you will start a virtuous cycle of positive and fun interactions, so you aren’t so fatigued by the end of the day. In 2011, I left my software engineering career to be a stay at home, homeschooling mom to (now) 4 kids. I’m old too.