What to do with 3dc at home

[workingonitagain]

I have a 3ds! 4yo 2yo and 7month and eldest goes to preschool twice a week and at home for the rest. struggling a bit with the entertainment side so just wondering what others do with 3 boys during the week. Thanks

I will be watching this thread as am due my 3rd ds in November. By then will have a 4 yr old in school, a 22 mth old and a newborn. Am not looking forward to the long days stuck inside during the winter months! !

Don't have 3 boys but two girls 5 and 2 plus 6 month old ds. In holiday time or when dd1 was not in school we go/went out every morning. Playgroups, park, playground, puddle jumping, bug hunting, trips to urban farms, pet shops, museums, soft play. Dens, pillow diving, stair sliding, gardening, swimming, baking, long bathtimes, arty stuff all good for rainy days.

Are there some local activities to get you all out of the house? Music group, gymnastics at sports centre, library activities that kind of thing? Having someone to meet there or walk with you will make a big difference. The soft play places near me have toddler mornings nearly every day for very little.
Things I did at home when I had 3 little ones at home: music sessions (get the saucepans out!), shredded paper in a box, play doh, puzzle time, bubbles and we went out in the garden or a walk up the street to post a letter a lot. Homestart volunteer once a week was a godsend if that opportunity is an option?

When I had three at home, the eldest (I've 4dcs so having three at home happened twice), the oldest dc was always in morning nursery, so we'd try a group in the am then race for noon to pick up the nursery dc then picnic at the park and play in the park (sometimes til 3, school pick up time for oldest dc).

If we came home, they would watch tv, art and craft. Once a week we'd go to the local farm for lunch or the local museum. I had three at home for about 3 years, so I'd establish a routine and change it every term or so.

I always found it easier out than in at home with 3.

Now I have dc3 who starts reception in sept and dc4 will be the only one home . I keep dd4 home a lot so she can rule the roost! She gets dragged on all school runs and the park after school, so I feel the quiet time is good for her!

Have you got a garden? DC4 is due soon so I've been looking out for loads of e-bay bargains so that the garden is full of toys for the summer. I try and have a few activities up my sleeve for when they get bored. Out door chalks, out door painting, bike riding (once DC4 is out), water sprinkler, water table etc.

I also like to have a couple of memberships for local places on the go, the best ones have handy loo's, easy parking and lots of safe space to run in. National Trust places are quite good as you can picnic there, they are not always open in the dead of winter though so having another local garden type one is good to have as well.

Thanks all yes we are members of most of our local farm playgroup etc i guess i just find it difficult not actually being able to play with them one to one and having to always treat them as a team. Hopefuly it will change a bit when ds1 goes to school. Im about to start a new thread about advice on how to reduce fights between siblings as thats my other issue and probably a lot of the reason why i don't feel like playing a lot of structured games

Wow sillylass79 i have all the admiration for you being able to stay at home for them. Even at the weekend my dp is at home, we usually spend the whole day out as finding being in the house too painful. Have to admit our living room is far too small and our garden is all pretty(done by dp and it is so not child friendly) we are hopefully going to move next summer to somewhere bigger where we can just release them out into the wild

I also like to go out - mine are 5, 3 and 6m; so DS1 is at school now and most of the time I only have the younger two. But for afternoons/weekends/school holidays: we do an activity outside of the house either morning or afternoon or both. This can simply be playing outside in the garden (is there no way you can use the garden??), which even the baby enjoys; walks in the wood, playgrounds (not always the same one), play farm, walks by the canal... I find boys are like dogs, they need at least one good walk a day! Mine are definitely very physical and need to be worn out. At home, we do puzzles, colouring/drawing/painting, occasionally crafts; but mostly just playing with toys. If it's any consolation to you (just seeing what your other thread is about) the older they get, the fewer big arguments we have!
We are already making a list of things to do in the summer holidays - I'm quite looking forward to them as it means DS1 can join in all the fun stuff!

I used to take my oldest 3 out LOTS when they were all under 5, in all weather. There is no bad weather, just bad clothing. Parks are great in the rain. Most other parents stay in, so your children can have free rain of the whole park.

I used to pack a picnic and a smallish fishing tent, in a rucksack. This gave us somewhere dry during wet weather and shade during hot sun.

It depends what is around where you live. I have lots of open space and woodland, which is great.

I agree with you about toddler groups. I find them a nightmare. My children always find some way to escape, get into the toilets, climb things or generally do anything other than play with the toys that have been set out.

I always treated my oldest 3 as a little unit and I think that helped them grow up with a strong brotherly bond.

It is just a single skin, cheap tent, but tall enough to stand up in. It packs down nice and goes up quickly with 2 long fibreglass poles that cross over each other. It's a dome shape.

My older boys are now 14, 16 & 18. They still like to collect wood and have a campfire tea & sleep in the garden. It's also a great way to keep them off PlayStation's, computers, TV etc.

If you pack a hearty picnic you can stay out all day. Let your son have as many tantrums as he likes and walk as slowly as he likes. You have all day, so don't need to hurry your boys along. You can just relax and enjoy time with them.

Personally being out the house is the only way I can ignore the housework and enjoy real quality time with my children.

Watching and taking notes! I've 3 and struggle always sometimes

I definitely agree that there is only bad clothing, life got a lot easier when I kitted everyone out with waterproofs, trousers included.

I've also discovered a few more footpaths with a tarmac road for the path, they are fantastic for bike riding and taking the scooters as they are car free.