I have a wonderful, adorable, cute, silly, fun three year old…with lots of energy and creativity…
And I also have a 10 year old, an eight year old and a six year old…
And we homeschool…
I have several tricks up my sleeve for keeping my three year old happy and occupied during school time, which I’ll be excited to share with you another time.
Today, I was wondering what fresh ideas YOU could give me for the little guy!
What fun/educational/creative activities have worked for you?
Thanks!
Be sure to go to Rocks in my Dryer today, where it is BACKWARDS Works for me Wednesday!
Britni Vigil says:
I teach a nursery class for 2-3 year olds and they love coloring, play dough, crafts, puzzles, singing time, music, and easy games like Ring Around the Rosie and Red Light, Green Light. All of these keep them entertained for a little while and don’t take a lot of effort on my part.
March 5th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Jessica says:
Three is the perfect age to start giving children their own “work.” They love it. I’m a Montessori teacher (ages 2 1/2 to 6) and I’d suggest doing some practical life type activities.
Here’s a quick example, have two bowls set in a tray with objects inside (for school we sometimes use those shiny colored rocks) and a spoon. With the spoon have the child scoop the objects from one bowl to the next and then back again. I’ve actually got to run to work now.
But here are some links that might (hopefully) help explain more:
http://www.michaelolaf.net/1CW36famcare.html
http://edavenue.homestead.com/finemotor.html
March 5th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Erika says:
We love play doe… I can set her up with a TV tray and some cookie cutters and that gives me about 20 - 30 minutes…
Anything longer than 5 min. is good for us but she is just 2 1/2… Good luck! (and to make it educational I have purchased play doe alphabet stamps from Lakeside Learning…so fun 
)
March 5th, 2008 at 9:55 am
warillever says:
Someone pointed this site out to me:
http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/preschool_activities.htm
It has a bunch of great ideas for keeping the little ones occupied while you work with the older ones. Not that this is of any help to me where my *oldest* is only 5yo
March 5th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Char says:
We haven’t actually used it yet, but I’ve been hearing glowing reports about MoonSand. (I think it’s kinda pricey, but we got some for Samuel’s birthday). I have a friend whose three year old will play for it for ages… might be worth getting some, with a great big tub, and letting him have at it. Apparently it’s pretty easy to clean up too, so you can let him play with it indoors.
March 5th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Niki says:
Here’s what works for me: playdough with cookie cutters, safety scissors and a few sheets of paper, a bug container filled with rice or dried corns/beans with little bulldozers/trucks, bubbles, a water pistol to “wash” his toy cars, chenille stems and fruit loops to do lacing…..
March 5th, 2008 at 12:42 pm