What are some good, cheap activities indoors for 19mo old and 3 yr old?

I have 3yr old son, 19 mo old daughter. I have always worked and am so busy between home and bedtime that my kids kinda have had freetime in the evenings. I got laid off last week and am going to (at least for a couple weeks) be a first time stay-at-home mom. I don't know how to do activities with them because they never do the same thing at the same time because of the age difference. My son is agressive and not horribly but I know he wants more one on one fun time. My daughter is starting to mimic him, and both throw consistant tantrums. It is cold, and I want activites to do with them so that they feel like they're having fun with mommy and hopefully will cut out the frustration I have at them up in my face with no break. I'm trying to be a good mom, but I feel like I just don't have any money to buy things for them and they don't want to do more than pick up toys and carry them or throw things. Please help me! Any suggestions would help. Thanks.

Answer:
You are a good mum! give yourself a break! U could try making playdoh with them, its easy and there are plenty of recipies on the net, and the kids can help make it then play with it! Puzzles are good, u can get them for diff ages but do them together. Reading is great and you can fit two on your lap! Draw with them teach the older one how to draw! Have a pillow fight! jump on the net and look for other ideas! the above are cheap, even free! I think they will be fine because they are obviously loved! Remember to give yourself mummy time too! You cant do a good job looking after anyone untill you you look after yourself! xx
Exercising & dancing. Put in a good kiddy CD or Video, and just start bouncing around and having fun! "Hokey Pokey" style.
do some cooking together - each can help you do something.. mix ingredients, pour things, etc. your youngest might even be carried away with playing with the cups, pots and pans if you set them up with water and containers, while your older child and you can do some quality time cooking!

it doesnt have to be anything big - icing arrowroot biscuits into different bright colours is always popular... even decorating the tops of muffins for personalised pizzas for the little ones...

give them a bucket and a paint brush each and fill it with water - ask them to go and paint the fence!it sounds silly, but they'll love it... they'll be playing with water, getting nice and messy and not really causing any damage at all...

it can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want to make it! have fun and enjoy the time!
finger paints... cheap and fun... put on a cd for them to dance to, my twins love that!! (they're 3)
I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old. A lot of the time we'll put in our favorite CD to dance to and while we are dancing and singing we'll clean up the house. My husband video tapes it all so it is like a music video. We do this every Saturday evening. Then after the whole house is cleaned up we will get some popcorn and watch the music video. They love to do this and it cleans the house.

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