I want my kids to be busy doing something fun for a long time (not five minutes).
Anyone have activities that they have their kids do that keep them busy for a while (other than watching TV which we've been doing far too much of?)
I have a newborn and can't bring the older ones outside.
Thanks for your help!
The kids seem to play better when the tv is off...that's for sure. They are not interested in art projects - must be a boy thing. We just have to remind ourselves that the tv is good in doses and that it doesn't need to be one all the time. We do a lot of stories and pretend play but sometimes I just wish they'd play alone or with eachother and not beg for my attention every minute! Thanks for the suggestions, they were all great.
Puzzles and coloring with color wonder markers and paints. Bubbles! I let my kids to bubbles in the livingroom once in a while. Legos or Duplos.
I'm not sure where you are located, but in Woodbury there is a really nice alternative, Lookout Ridge,which is an indoor play area. There is a small fee, but you can stay as long as you like. There is a seperate area for younger kids and bigger kids and chairs for you to sit and hold the baby. My daughter goes nuts there and its always ready for a nap when done. If it's not close by you, it might be worth checking to see if your neighborhood has something similar.
My boys are almost 3 & 16 months - they love to play together & separately with puzzles, cars, mega blocks, etc. We have an unfinished basement where their "big toys" stay - and they can spend hours playing in the little tent & slide they have down there. Try guiding them into different activities throughout the day so they don't get bored with things so quickly.
Also, check with mom's in your neighborhood to see if there are any older kids (10-14) who are home after school by themselves. You could work out a deal with another mom to watch their child, and in turn that child could bring your kids outside to play in your own yard - everyone wins!
Get them some play doh and a big set of the cutters and a couple of little rolling pins. It keeps my older 2 busy for hours. Don't get any of the things where you have to put the doh in the head and make hair or anything like that though because they will love it and you will end up doing it because it's so hard for them.
Another thing is coloring books.
My kids also love the big legos, we have a 10 gallon storage bucket of them and they like to see who can make the biggest tower or castle.
Congrats on the new baby.
J.
my little boy loves it when we sit down and color together even if i am making dinner or in the middle of something i can always run over and color a little something
Get a large tub, bin, box, or laundry basket and fill it up with all of the kids stuffed animals, babies etc. Then dump all of them out on a blank area of floor play with them. Like role play, who's Mom, Dad, kids, etc. If you play with them the first few times they will love it (maybe when the baby is napping) and then they will get it. Then after about 30 min. pack them up and put them away to next time, don't let them get too bored. And make it a special fun thing you do. Also games!!! I love games with kids. Good luck! I am sure you are doing great!
Make lunch activities fun. Make the dough and have them roll out their own pizza dough and put all the topings on themselves. That takes about an hour. But you involve your kids in each meal that you make it make it fun and interactive.
My nephews like to paint to I bought them projects and they spend a couple hours painting. But you have to set up rules, such as you can only paint red in 2 areas and blue in other areas.
Have a indoor scavenger hunt. Make it tough and set rules so your house does not get messed up. The tougher it is the longer it takes.
Teach them how to play card games.
Works best if you have a digital camera. Then you will need to go to Best Buy and buy T-shirt transfer paper. Have a photo day where they pick out there own clothing for pictures and then take pics for the first part of the day. Then when they lay down for a nap, you transfer the photos onto t-shirts. When they get up from their nap they can decorate the t-shirts with puffy paints.
If you need more ideas, I love to be creative when I have my nephews over please email me direct at ____@____.com
My best advice to you is to find learning games that the older two can do together such as memory games, abc and 123 wooden puzzle games. Also, just spend as much time with them as you can. If they have to watch tv, have them watch educational programs such as Sesame Street or Animal Planet. I hope this helps. Good luck to you!! You sure have you hands full. :)
just like supernanny said kids will always want your attendion. but its ok to tell them to go and find something to do by themselfs without your help. if kid are always being directed they will never find their independence. make sure whatever they are doing is safe. sometimes its better for them to figure it out on their own. i'm sure you have penty of things for them to do already. but having you show them things to do is another way in getting your attendion.
Dear G P,
I know how difficult it can be living in our Mid-Western climate to think of new things to do with our kids and keep them entertained, especially in Winter. ROUTINE especially in Winter is what I did with my kids are 22 months apart. (Teens now) In my opinion, any time you can get the two older boys bundled up to play outside with Dad or another responsible adult, TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY!!!! Kids that age LOVE to be outside, even for a walk for a few blocks in the neighborhood to "just get out of the house". It tires 'em out! I dont know if Dad is in the picture, if he is, this should be automatic and Dad should assume most of the parenting for the older boys now, especially with a new baby in the home. If Dad is smart, he wont argue that making it a point to take the older ones out for a walk once a day weather permitting, is a GREAT idea. If Dad isnt in the picture, my advice is, ask someone you trust to watch the baby, a neighbor perhaps and make it a point to take the older boys for a walk as often as you can. I can tell you from experience that it is very enjoyable and the older boys will benefit a lot to have their Mom spending time with them without the new baby, they will love the attention, and will need it if Dad isnt around. Trust me, staying inside is one of the owrdt things you can do if you can help it. Tires out the kids, and refreshes the Mom. And once the weather warms up, you just bring that baby along too!
A great indoor activity is that I bought an under the bed storage container and filled it with sand and toys. It can be a little messy but it sweeps right up and can reuse the sand.
Playdoh also entertains for quite awhile. There are great recipes online for scented playdohs too. Good Luck!
I always love arts and crafts. My daughter loves to cut out shapes I draw for her (with child scissors) or finger paint, draw, play with clay, etc. Keeps her busy for a good hour or so. L.
It can be difficult to find something for them to do that doesn't need supervision and keeps their attention and with it being winter and all, heh?
I second the arts and crafts, although that usually requires some supervision.
Lately my kids have gotten into playing "store." They have wallets, purses, credit cards, play money, cash register, toys for merchandise, and grocery cart. Merchandise is all over the house, but it keeps them occupied quite a bit throughout the day.
What else? They play with their kitchen and work bench a lot. How about some music, dance, instruments, or exercise/dance video? A trip to the library for some new books? How about some activities outside the house or a playgroup, even if some of it is on the weekends or evenings? It could help so they're not so stir-crazy during the week.
I know it's difficult with a baby, but it can work with some planning and maybe some help from other moms, dad, and/or someone else.
Can you take your older ones outside with the monitor when the baby is sleeping on warmer days? Or maybe just in the garage or basement with something they like to do/play with for a change of pace?
I don't know what you've been doing, so just some ideas here.
Congratulations on the newborn and good luck! I know it will be even more difficult to keep mine entertained if we decide to try for another. But, they will have each other, which can be a plus at times!
If it's above freezing out like it's been you should beable to bundle the baby up and go for a walk or outside for a 15min. or so.
I use to work at a in home daycare and if the kids didn't go outside and burn some engery they went nuts. Is your yard fenced in? You could watch them from a window?
I have twins who just turned four, and my son just turned 2. A favorite for all of them is play doh. As long as they are playing on a hard surface, you don't need to worry much about things going too wrong.
My nephews who are about the same age are really into Thomas the Train. They can put the tracks together and run the trains for hours. You can get a pretty cheap (not Thomas) train and track at IKEA. My daughter loves to play with play dough, if she could do it all day she would. I got some big paper that I can roll out on the floor so she can color and went to the dollar store for tons of stickers. It's usually the little things that can keep them pretty entertained. Have Fun!
I have three boys too who are very close in age....It is hard to keep boys busy. They don't spend much time on anything I set up for them to do. I think the best thats worked for me is to shut off the t.v. and tell them that it is time to find something to play. After a few days...they got reconnected with there "imaginations" (sp?). Its entertaining to watch them sometimes. I live in wanamingo....if you need a play date too and sometime out of the house, let me know. ____@____.com It also helps to have someone to talk with when you have bad days too. Three boys can be alot sometimes. :)
