Entertaining a 3 Year Old at Home

Hi P.

I'm not a mom yet so I'm not saying this works but try to make a "schedule" for your day. You could start the morning with "wake up time"/breakfast/etc. then do learning time (abc's, counting, reading, etc) followed by some outside/physical activity time. You can incorporate creative crafts, music/singing, play time, etc. Does she nap? When do you like to get your errands done? See what your day care does currently and try to go off of that. Get some activity books and books for mom's of pre-preschoolers for some creative things to do. Good luck!

Hi P.: Go with your instincts and do everything you can to stay at home with your sweet girl. I really doubt she loved daycare all that much when given the choice of spending her days with strangers or a mom who loves her with all her heart. There are so many ways to enjoy spending time with her. Let her help. Little girls love to help. I know it's tempting to do it yourself and get it done, but it means so much to them and is such good training for her. Give her a dustrag or let her hand you dishes for or from the dishwasher. Read together and foster a lifetime love of learning. Go to the park everyday and show her the leaves and trees and animals and bring picnic lunches. Talk to her about when you were little as you do the housework, share family stories. Get her a little tea set and have tea parties with her and her dolls. Take her to the library and pick out books together. Let her wake up on her own schedule and have stress free days with you. Play, laugh and love and give her a lifetime of memories that she will treasure forever.

M.

Hi P.,
I can relate completely, as I have left a high stress position recently and am home with my 4 year old. I have taken the time to re-evaluate what I would like to do for the rest of my career and have decided to work from home. As for keeping my son entertained, I participate in my local Mom's club chapter which includes play dates, fieldtrips, etc. and I have a structure daily where we engage in learning activities that I download free online to get him ready for kindergarten. An example schedule - AM - preschool activities, PM - nap time, play outside or indoor favorite movie time or play with toys. We also plan park days or library days. I do my work early in the morning, during naps and evenings when my husband can help out. Hope this helps - it's working great for me. Good Luck.

Hi P. - My kids are now 5 and 7 (and I'm pregnant with no. 3), but I just wanted to share some ideas of how I spent my time with them when they were younger. It helped to have some kind of schedule. Perhaps join a play group that meets at a park 1 - 2 days a week (or make your own with a friend), also taking classes through the city were also a great way to break up the day. We took tumbling classes, art classes and music at different times. Once you get on a schedule I think you'll enjoy your time more. I hope she's still napping which will give you some time to your self, but if not, you could make a quiet time each day where she gets to play independently or watch a video. I also made it a priority to get to the gym several days a week, and the kids would go in the day care. Some times it takes a while for them to adjust to the gym, but once they do it's worth it. Oh, and last, I've always enjoyed packing lunches for us and heading to the zoo, or a regional park for a relaxing day. -jessica

ROUTINE, ROUTINE, ROUTINE! The days you are home have a plan. Park day, library day (find out when toddler storytime is at your local branch or other close library--bookstores have them too, and so does PB Kids), sign her up for a mommy and me art class or music or tumbling through your city (they are cheap that way). Then make sure you are home for quiet time same time each day. Make a few mom friends at the park who meet on the same day.

Hope this helps!

Hi P. -
I have a 3 y/o and a 10 m/o. I joined the MOMS Club in Lake Forest (since that is the city I live in) you might want to join the MOMS club in your city, almost every city has one. They coordinate play dates, park days, outings, etc. It is a way for her to play with other kids and for you to meet lots of other Moms. It's great - and free!

Hi P.,
You are going through a transition right now so give yourself a little time to adjust to your new "job" at home. But once you do, I think you will realize that there is nothing more rewarding than being with your daughter and the benefit to her will last a lifetime. I found that having a plan for the day helped break it up even if the plan was staying home. Just knowing what we were or were not doing helped my mind set. Also, joining a Moms club or a MOPs group at a local church also gets you out with adults and the kids get to play. I always remember a quote from a Mom friend that helps me get through some of those tough days, "The days are long but the years go by fast" when referring to the early years. Before long they will be in kindergarten and the next thing you know they are in college, so try to enjoy it now.
Good Luck.