Looking for Fun Summer Ideas for a 3 year old.
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive July 2004:
Looking for Fun Summer Ideas for a 3 year old.
I need some ideas, ladies. It seems everyone is away on vacation and we have not had any playdates. We've hit the park and have played in the backyard, but have not had any planned activities for her and I.
I am thinking of taking her swimming at one of the local ponds/parks. (We live across from a State Park) I could sit and she could splash. I'm just not sure of what else to do with just the two of us. I could take her to the pool, but I imagine it's packed with kids and it wouldn't be too much fun for me by myself. I guess I could give it a shot.
I am contemplating the beach with the 2 of us, but I'm not sure I could carry all the gear! Maybe I am being too whimpy. LOL!
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Eve, we'll have to get together and go to the pool or beach or something.
Seriously though, I don't know about your town pool but I think it would be fun for just the two of you. Our town has a nice toddler pool and the toddlers splash while the moms wade and/or sit and chat close by.
Speaking of the pool, I need to get the kids ready for swimming lessons in 1 hr.. 
I'm a single mom who goes everywhere with my only child and I say do whatever you want to do!! There are a lot of moms with kids at the pool. We've done Sea World and Schlitterbahn and caves and Pikes Peak and Six Flags and children's museums and Europe and long road trips and it's all doable! And fun!
Mine love to make tents, if you have one set it up in your yard or make them out of sheets (more fun anyway). We lay in them reading books, playing with action figures, pretending to camp, I pretend to be a bear and attack them, pillow fighting, etc.
Go to your library they usually have a story hour geared for 3-5 year olds or just go and pick out books and sit and read them.
Make a scavengar hunt geared for her age and go on a walk of the neighborhood or at the forest. For mine I put pictures of things like pine cones, yellow flower, squirrell, etc. and then I put it on a clip board with a pen attatched by string, they were to circle it when they saw whatever it was.
You could do the beach with the two of you, it would be fun! You saying that reminds me of the opening of "My wife and Kids" were they are trying to get everything back to the car from the beach.
I'll try to think of some more, have fun.
One of my girls' favorite toys was a big box that our stove came in (I know, you don't get those every day!). We cut windows and they decorated it to look like a post office, I gave them junk mail and packages, and they used to play for hours in the back yard.
Bubbles are always fun..if you use a plastic strawberry basket, you get lots of bubbles! You might also try viewing your city like a visitor (I don't know your area...this may not apply). Check out your city's website (if they have one) or Chamber of Commerce for activities/festivals or places to see that you may not know about, that would make for fun activities.
We do alot of storytimes as well, Ive done it with both my kids...Usually most local libraries have them at sometime.
Do you have a "Barnes and Noble" in your area? We have a local one and they do a storytime 3-4 times a week there...
Also,have you tried looking for some local playgroups?
Have you gone to Matchingmoms.com,you put your zipcode in, and it brings up other mothers in your area(well if they post their info on there)
And of course, we spend alot of time in the pool in the backyard as well.. Anything to pass the time.
I just love summer!
Eve I just posted some pics on the photo board of my DD Alissa who is 3 playing in our little pool in the back yard. Do you have or maybe get a pool for Syd? It will keep her busy for ever. At least it does in Alissa case.
Yes! Kids pools are so entertaining! I bet Sydney would love it. You could even get in with her
Eve,
I bet Syd would love swim lessons. She is at the perfect age!
Do you have any kid museums in your area? My kids had lots of fun making friends and playing.
What about a day at the movies?
Plan a teddy bear picnic at the park and pack stuff related to that.(Or any theme she enjoys)
Do you get a local city guide that gives you things to do in and around your area?
Most important while you are out talk with other moms and ask what they do with their children. I get soooo many ideas from others.
If it is warm enough, let her run through the sprinkler, or let her play i a baby pool.
Do you have a zoo nearby? She would probably love that. Or take her to the movies...Shrek 2 is playing right now. I don't know about anything else. Play doh is fun, coloring, teach her to write her name, go to the library...have fun!
Thanks, everyone! We ran around today, but we did get the baby pool out. She also played with the hose and watered everything for me. LOL! We made ice cream cones, which made her extremely happy. I'll call the library too. We do have a Farm down the road too. Thanks for reminding me!
Laura, you are so right. Thank you. I think I am going to look for something to carry Beach items from the car. You're right, what would I do if I was a single Mom? I would do it!
The way I managed the beach was to just carry a bucket - like a mop bucket, something that didn't absorb water, and we put all our stuff in that. I only had sunscreen, a garden shovel, a bottle of water to share and maybe a bag of chips, my keys, my phone and a couple of bucks. And that's it. With a little one, the trip will be short anyway. (Well, with my little one!)
I have a bag from the laundry dept. in Walmart. It is black, heavy mesh and can be dragged! Put some toys in that, carry a small cooler type backpack with a few drinks, snacks, pockets for phone, keys, small wallet, sunscreen, a book, wear your towels, carry a small chair. Encourage her to talk to other kids nearby, share toys and play.
Does Sydney have a pet? Maybe this is a good oppurtunity for a small breed puppy.
Maybe enroll her into day care for two mornings a week. She will meet new friends, give you time to clean the house, so your time together can be focused on her, not what is not being done at home and will give you a chance to meet other moms with children the same age.
Storytimes are great. I took my kids, they are entertained and I could sit and read!
You mentioned the theater before, maybe go see the play and encourage her to put on her own play at home, using the videocam. One of my dds loves to do this!
Go and enjoy what you like to do, have her tag along but make the outings short. Museums, antique stores, book stores, yoga class, etc. Teach her to prepare a meal. Pick out a recipe from a cookbook. Prepare a list, shop, prepare the meal, etc.
Enroll her into a gymnastics class or maybe ballet. You can sit, read and talk with other moms with dds with the same interests.
Adopt a grandparent at a nearby nursinghome/retirement center. Many facilities encourage this. It is wonderful for the seniors and inspires compassion in younger kids. During the week she can paint, draw, color pictures for the senior or better yet, videotape a show for her/him to watch.
I hope some of these ideas help.
You could come visit me and MY three year old daughter....
I also have an eight year old who is a social butterfly and wakens each morning with the same words on her lips..."What are we doing today?? Who are we visiting? Who is coming over?" Usually we're not doing anything. She is a major extrovert and I am an introvert. There is only one family on the street she could play with, and unfortunately that family is quite strict on how often their girls are allowed to have playdates (like once a week...in my opinion when it's summer, why not play everyday??) She also goes to a private school so her school friends are flung too far and wide to just spontaneously play. Everything has to be arranged and none of the parents seem too keen on driving for playdates. Sigh....
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