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Behaviour/development

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3YO what to do with our days off

9 replies

Jannt86 · 10/07/2021 23:37

I'm off with my dd age 3 and 3months 2 days during the week. I love my time with her but really losing my mojo a bit. We play imaginitive games etc and that's the bulk of what she wants to do but (and this might sound daft) the games don't really 'go anywhere'. I try my best to invent storylines for her sylvanian families and we play 'ice cream shop' for example but there's only so many ways I can pretend to want an ice cream lol. I also read lots to her. She sometimes resists this but we tend to get a handful of books in a couple of times a day and at bedtime. We have jigsaws and lego which she quite enjoys and is very good at but has to be in the mood for. She also will draw and colour etc but isn't massively into this yet. She can just about write her name when she concentrates and I haven't especially pushed this she's sortof taught herself. She can count fairly well and definitely understands the concept of adding and subtracting but doesn't have the patience to do sums for example. She recognises most letters and sortof understands how to sound out and read a word but struggles as she is slightly behind with pronounciation and sound recognition so struggles to actually recall the sounds if that makes sense. What I struggle with is incorporating all this into her play. If I try she generally just finds a way of avoiding it and if I try formally teaching it we just tend to get frustrated with each other lol. Playing shops has been great as it's really encouraged her counting as we play with play money. If I catch her out she definitely understands both addition and subtraction. Eg if I give her '4 pounds' but she wanted 3 she'll give me one back. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that what I'm doing is 'enough'. Although we have fun together she really craves other kids and as much as I try I just feel I'm not stimulating her or meeting that need for play enough. Thanks x

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BunnyRuddington · 11/07/2021 07:53

I would forget all of the teaching and just enjoy being with her if I'm honest. She doesn't need to know any of that stuff at 3 and you run the risk of her being bored and switching off at school when they are taught these things speaks from experience

Jannt86 · 11/07/2021 12:40

Thanks. I'm trying to make sure she knows enough that her first years at school are comfortable but not so much she's bored like you say. I try and mostly do just play with her but feel like I'm failing at that too Grin I think really it's just getting to the point that she needs more time in preschool but I am planning on moving her up to 4 days a week in September x

OP posts:
BunnyRuddington · 11/07/2021 12:59

I'd just try to concentrate on enjoying time with her. My DC1 wouldn't even hold a pen or pencil and was writing sentences on half a term.

What she needs from you now is just your time, so just look at activities for 3 year olds. Go swimming with her or take her to playgroup. Feed the ducks in the park and have a picnic. Meet friends for lunch and just enjoy her fir who she is now.

She'll do absolutely fine in school anyway Smile

Mattieandmummy · 12/07/2021 20:00

Totally second this, just enjoy your time with her. It sounds as though you're doing loads already!

Feeding the ducks is always popular in our house, or a city farm (depends where you are of course), go to the zoo as a treat? Some country parks have Gruffalo trails or Stickman trails or similar. I wouldn't hurry her into more nursery necessarily, she'll be at school soon.

Mattieandmummy · 12/07/2021 21:09

Here you go:

www.instagram.com/p/CQvL58_sPEh/?utm_medium=copy_link

Mattieandmummy · 12/07/2021 21:10

Oops wrong thread!

Opalfeet · 14/07/2021 23:15

Go swimming?

Opalfeet · 14/07/2021 23:16

@BunnyRuddington second the park and walking ducks. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. She can learn things on the hop she doesn't need it so formalised, she's only little

Anonymum30 · 15/07/2021 20:07

Last year I themed each week (I'm a full time stay at home mum and it was for my own sanity during the lockdowns etc), with things like 'food' 'farms' 'space' etc and just did 1-2 activities a day around those things (Pinterest is good if you need some inspiration!). You could do a themed trip out somewhere too perhaps.

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