New activities for 3 year old to do at home, getting bored of same things!

[mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime]

Please help me think of new things to do with ds age 3.5.
We have done drawing, painting, playdoh, sticking, park, jigsaws, duplo and need some inspiration please!

He loves water play but always wants to put toys in the water that he shouldn't be - he put his electric keyboard in his paddling pool yesterday. Any ideas with water I can try which will keep him interested?

Swimming
Cinema
Making up songs and dance routines
Making up stories (filming them and watching back is a particular favourite with my DS)
Ball games
Hide and Seek
Cooking and baking (rice krispie cakes mainly)

These are some things my DS likes to do. Hope this helps

Get some paintbrushes, a bucket of water and tell him the patio needs painting.

We did try cookies the other day and he loved rolling them out and cutting them, forgot that one - will do that again! Haven't tried hide and seek, will try that. Lots of things, Thanks!

definitely water painting - good if it's really hot as there's a sort of forth road bridge effect...

dried lentils and a gazillion cooking pots

chalks on patio (and hose - mine like hosing...)

We have done chalks outside today and it kept him busy for ages! He does go to playschool 3 times a week so he does do lots of things, guess I am the one getting bored of the same things!

Cheers for ideas

and nearly time for leaf collecting - sp leaf rubbing, autumn sticking blah blah blah. i do find that when i get really in a rut i need to go 'seasonal'... then at least there's a year between activities...

Another good one for water play is to buy a cheap plant spray bottle -DS loves his and wanders round the garden spraying things with water for ages

oh betty, mine love that - i have to remember to confiscate them before they get in the house tho...

Play shops - use food from your cupboards or his toys. My ds who is the same age loves it

Also, without doubt his favourite game is cafes - this can be done inside or (even better) outside. Give him a pad and pencil sit at a table and then put in your order

You may have to show him how to do it first time but it should be a fun thing to do together even if it doesn't become one of his favourites
Enjoy

get paint brush and bucket of water and ask her to paint the wall outside , did this with bored 3 year olds they loved it, kept them busy.
tub of water , and dollies, let her wash her dollies

sorry you said your dc was a boy.whoops but might like painting idea ill rack my brain for anymore

Wow! Cool ideas coming forward. I think I am just tired at the moment, I am 8 wks pg and finding it hard in the afternoons to be creative, especially when I have been to work since 7am. Elc cards sound great, as do shops! Getting excited now lol

Making mixtures out of anything in the kitchen cupboard is fun. Flour, water, lentils, pasta, whatever. Cornflour mixed with water is fascinating. A tray of shaving foam is also great fun.

hayley2u - that's ok! He would love washing his teddy and he has a doll. The paintbrush thing sounds good too.

All the usual household chores are a favourite with the dds (4.6 and 22m)

Filling a very deep bubble bath with all the toys also a hit (even in the middle of the day)

Hide and seek

I do think 'free' time and allowing a child to be bored and not constantly 'entertained' with play and activities is very important, though. DD1 moans and whinges for a while but soon sorts herself out... often it's times like these when she and dd2 get on the best

He would love mixing things. He made omlette with me today and loved it, he gets so excited!

I've just thought of something that recently entertained DS for an age (although I'm not sure it woyuld work again) -I gave him a washing-up bowl of water and bubbles in the garden and he washed up all the play kitchen stuff from the play house

Agree notnowbernard, he seems to play happily in the morning with his bricks and aeroplanes, but by 2.30-3pm (you know the tired stage) he gets bored and under my feet sometimes and I often think to myself 'what the hell can we do now!' lol!

Thanks bettyspaghetti! He would love that.

oh washing up is always a winner - add in a teapot and some cups and you may have killed an hour at least

OMG, yes, 2.30-4pm the worst in our house, if we are indoors

Whinge, moan, "Mummeeeeeeeeee" 100x an hour

But lately am finding they are really starting to play well together. Think dd1 is realising that actually it's quite good fun if I'm not there all the time. She can boss dd2 around til her heart's content

Lol notnowbernard! I call it the tired time, must admit have stormed us out of the house to the park at this time of day as it drives me nuts!

I am pg with number 2 so am wondering how he would be with someone to play with! I have a lot to learn yet

Will be armed with activites tomorrow!