Good sharing games to play at home with 3 yr old only child please

[madmarchhare]

Due to nursery probs we need to brush up on our sharing skills

Any gae that involves playing together and taking turns would be a good start - pass the parcel, snakes and ladders, taking turns on the slide/swing, playing dollies with only one pushchair, snap, etc.

Also how about getting your 3yo to help you serve meals? S/he can help decide how much of each food should go on everyone's plate to make it fair.

I like the serving meals idea.

lol @snakes and ladders, last time we played it ended in tears with the board flung of the table when he had to go down a snake. You see what I mean

If he finds the losing of games an issue, then change how you play slightly. Don't be you and him playing. Let him chose 2 or 3 teddies/toys to play, and he gets to be all of them. Might take the pressure of who wins/loses.

yes, my ds would no way have coped with turn taking for board games like snakes and ladders at three. That's very young indeed. Lots of children at three find this hard (in my experience the kids with siblings at DS' pre-school fought harder and more fiercely because they ALSO have to fight their corner at home, so the only child thing is prob a red herring in this scenario!)

You say he's having problems at nursery, well that sounds to me like he is learning......so long as it's not making him miserable, or hate nursery, I think it just means that he's butting up against the rules and learning the hard way, which is how we all learn really.

Don't expect too much of him and don't let nursery make you feel he's got a problem!

Think we 'met' on your earlier thread

I would steer clear of competitive games too - ds looses it totally around board games Like the teddies idea, though.

How about 'modelling' the behaviour you want him to show - eg offer to share some of your food. After you've done that a few times ask if he'd like to share with you.

Anotyher thing that worked with ds was very, very quick turns - eg 5 secs or so. So they get the idea that the thing will come back - I think turn taking to a child often feels like giving away...

Also, my top tip - a timer - I have something til the beeper goes, then it's ds's turn, then when the beeper goes, my turn again. DS & his mates are not known for their sharing skills but the beeper works (nearly) every time

I have another thread on the nursery issues, so wont bore you here. This is just one way of trying to resolve these. The only child reference was more to do with the fact that he doesnt have siblings to use in the said sharing.

To be fair, nursery are being very good.

Buzz and Woody snakes and ladders it is then.

We use the timer at the end of the day. It works quite well for us too. I will try and work it into taking turns

If he finds the actual board game bit harder, try making a simple pass the parcel with him. Let him count how many people (can be toys again) are playing. The together make the parcel with that many layers, adding a small thing in each layer - even a simple little sticker is enough. Then get him to play. Remind him that there are x people playing and x layers, so everyone will get something and can he help you make sure everyone gets theres. Then play pass the parcel, with Buzz and Woody et al! When each person gets there turn make a big fuss of unwrapping for that person and leaving their "prize" very visible in front of them. Whilst music is playing on next go ask DS who still hasn't "won" so he can help you decide when the music should stop.

Don't know if this would help but I have a faint recollecion of having read/saw in TV or somewhere that in term of playing skills, we as mums teach them to win (or to get their way) while fathers won't mind winning over them most of the times (which means wait for as long as it takes for their turn, and learn to loose). So... in order to achieve a good balance, it is important that you both play with him.

My ds is 3 and likes playing balancing on the moon. It has a dice with colours so he doesn't need to recognise numbers. You take turns throw the dice then balance the piece of corresponding colour on the moon. Its much easier than most board games.
Have attempted to link noahs ark version here.

cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wooden-Noahs-Ark-Balancing-Game-Educational_W0QQitemZ120074876741QQihZ002QQcategoryZ1 197QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Thank you for your suggestions. Funnily enough someone at work mentioned the balancing one today.