What can a 4yo do while mom&baby nap?

My first thought was, "Destroy the house"!!! Sorry, I'm no help. My 4.5 year old is phasing out naps, but the 2 year old still needs one. And somteimes, so do I. So I know where you're coming from, but I don't really have any suggestions. Hopefully someone else can help us both.

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I think maybe it depends on the child?

Or maybe there is a big difference between a just turned-4 yo and a 4 yo who is almost 5. But I have the former, and there is no way I would trust my 4 yo to be unsupervised in the house while I slept. The only way I can see it is if we were all locked up in the same room and I dozed with the baby while he did something quiet (and the being quiet part is not likely to happen very often, either )But, full run of the house? No way. Plus, I don't think that would be fair to him.

I vote for the mother's helper. I *wish* I had gotten one a few times of week when I first had my baby. I think I could have been a better parent if I had been able to get a rest during the day. But, you know what? I don't think tv is the worst possible thing, if you have no other option and you just have to lie down for a short time. I have tried a lot of things just to get the 15 minutes I need to put my baby down for a nap...putting out a little project for him with washable markers, glitter glue, stringing beads, pouring/scooping dried rice/beans, story tapes/CDs from the library--but I can't say most of these things are very successful.

I could trust DS1 to amuse himself for 20-30 min while I was still pg and he was 3 1/2! (yes, I do know how lucky I am!) I think that helped him understand how tired Mama gets.

Our house is super tiny, so I trust him (now 4 1/2) not to get into any trouble and I know I'd hear if he did. I just tell him I need to lay down and ask him to find something quiet to do. We plan it out together and usually he decides to read or play with his action figures. This is all assuming that he isn't napping himself, which he generally still does.

NOW, if I could only get the BABY to amuse himself while I sleep. Buuuwa ha ha ha ha ha!

Thanks everyone for the discussion. I see that I am lucky to have a very responsible 4 year old whom I trust to be free in the house while I'm asleep. We do have a very small house so I can see/ hear her from most rooms. I also see that you all who have napping 3 and 4 year olds are lucky!!
My little princess stopped napping at 2 years plus a few months. It's been a long few years keeping busy all day (and she stays up until 9 or 10-which is part of the reason I'm so tired and need a break!)That's a whole other story...
I think I will pursue the mom's helper because dd is very social and prefers play to solitary activities. I'll do that and brew up another latte:

I've got a 4.5 yo and a 13 mo. I've always had a "quiet time" each day. When DS was younger he would nap, but now that he's older, the rule is he must stay in his bedroom playing quietly or reading books. I can then lay down and nap while the 13 mo naps if need be. I realize now that I'm extremely fortunate that my 4 yo has never been a "house wrecker". I've always been able to trust him while I take my siesta, even if he isn't so good at staying in his bedroom.

On days that he doesn't nap (and therefore he consequently has trouble staying in his room for quiet time ) I end up having to nap at about 4 pm or so. Both kids are awake, but DS is very good at engaging his baby sister so I can get a 30 minute power nap on the couch. Incidentally, what totally surprises me about this situation is that I've never once asked DS to "watch" his sister or to keep her occupied or anything, as I don't feel that's his responsibility. But on his own, he realizes that I'm napping, and will intentionally keep DD occupied so she won't bother me.

Geez, I remember when I was little and it was "nap time" - ooooh, how I hated it! And now that I'm a grownup, I'd PAY someone to tell me it was "nap time!"