How can I entertain my 3 year old through the long summer hols ??

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, I just wondered if anyone had any ideas how to keep a 3.5 year old happy throughout the summer hols?
She usually goes to nursery school 5 mornings a week and loves it. If she gets bored at home she will do naughty things to get attention. She has a speech disorder and gets very frustrated. I find it quite draining being with her all day because I'm constantly trying soo hard to understand what she says to limit her stress. She is a little poppet and I do love having her around but just wanted some ideas of how to keep her happy and entertained.
She is an only child and have no other children neer by.

our local council/university run lots of kids things throughout the summer - have you had a look there?

will be watching this with interest after my DD's and I spent the most boring and miserable day together. I am soooo tired that can bearly muster uo the energy to moan.

Have a look for children's events at local museums, galleries and libraries.

Craft box - save all your odds and ends, boxes, buttons, ribbons, anything - jumk modeling for a rainy day

Outside - go out as much as possible! Park, a walk in the woods, picnic, painting in the garden, etc.

Cooking

And encourage her to spend parts of each day in independent play with her toys, without mummy.

we have also bought a season pass for a local farm with play area - its more than paid for itself already

Thanks, I could see if sure start are running any toddler groups etc. Is she still a toddler ??

Most playgroups will be shut but some may remain open. She'd usually be at the older end of the age spectrum but the holidays may mean there'd be other 3 or 4 yr olds there. Definitely worth checking to see if any of your local ones are staying open.

Softplay places often have special sessions for younger children too.

And swimming too

Good idea, I've been meaning to make a rain catcher with her for ages.
I'd like to make some play dough too.

strawberry picking?
gardening? mine both love getting really messy
baking a huge hit in this house, even if you're only covering digestives with icing pens
are you members of the local library so she can pick books too?

Surestart groups run all through the holidays usually and they are fantastic imo

what did you used to do before she went to nursery ? Does her SALT offer any group sessions ? Soft play and swimming are good for iffy weather and the park, at least while the schools are mainly still in session. Arrange to meet a friend from nursery there occasionally.

Find a few projects to reinforce what she has learnt - i-spy walks to collect and spot things beginning with a particular letter, maybe create a scrapbook of things you do, simple crafts and cooking. Role play games too , such as picnics with her toys

We took her swimming recently for the first time. My husband and I aren't keen at all on swimming but thought we'd make the effort. Our daughter enjoyed splashing up to her knees but refused to go in propperly, not even with me or DH. It was a bit of a waist of time. Then she slipped over and brused her back.
So all in all, not a great experience.

oh no mummyloveslucy what a shame as swimming is normally such a favourite - hope her back wasn't too sore and it hasn't put her off going back again

Great ideas Lizs. We have arranged to meet up with some of her nursery friends so that will be nice.

think of things to wear her out

long walks
bike rides
swimming
softplay
visit to the park
pyo
visit to friends

...pick on of those per morning and then lunch.

My ds then gets a choice of a nap in his room or a rest in front of the telly under a blanket on the sofa -he always picks this! This is my quiet time where I cook, tidy have a cup of tea, mnet!

Afternoons
Have a basket of 'stuff'
buttons, milk bottle tops, old boxes, cartons etc and let her play with them how she likes.

Blow up 6-10 balloons, that keeps little ones amused for ages.

Computer time -cbeebies

Library -they have toys and books and sometimes story sessions.

Digging in the garden? Sandpit?

We're going to have 1 big thing per week to work towards so he doesn't (hopefully) turn into demon child

Outdoors - Park, feed ducks, nature walks (collect things on the way to collage with when you get home), paddling pool, bike, scooter, borrow a dog to walk, play dates

Indoors - Paint, play dough, make pastry shapes/cook/paint, junk modelling, make house out of box for dolls (blue peter style), make pom pom animals, make cakes/cookies, indoor picnic +/- teddy bears, make tents, dressing up, face painting, role play games (drs/nurses etc), read stories, hide and seak, finding things around the house beginning with letters or finding things of colour groups

And more expensive - Swimming, soft play, zoo, farm, cinema, train ride, bus ride, sea side, fun fair, theme parks, aquarium

The bruse was gon within 2 days. It's amazing how quickly children heal. She thinks it's too cold too. Unless it's bath tempeature she's not happy.
When she first put her feet in she said to me "more hot please mummy", as she would say about her bath.

I like the idea of finding things beggining with a certain letter. That sounds really fun and educational. She also loves feeding the ducks. She can't ride a bike or a scooter. Maybe I should teach her.

Great advice from muppetgirl, I try to get out at least once a day, even if it is just to the playground, would go mad at home all day otherwise. Libraries are always good for finding out what's on and often have special activities during the hols. Do you have a One o'clock Club near you? They usually stay open during the holidays - at least in our area.

The lack of nursery routine can be a great excuse to travel a bit further afield. Doesn't have to be hugely ambitious - a couple of stops on the bus or train to a different area can be really exciting to a little one.

Mine loves washing the car with a bucket of soapy water and a big sponge.

Similarly playing in the garden sprinkler (or the rain, at the rate we're going.) Or the bath. There's a theme here.

We have a zoo pass, which is always great. The place is so big, it never really feels crowded. And I don't get bored.

We were at the park today for an hour and half in the pouring rain (ds rung my hair out when we got home!)
We asked a 'Nina' (Nina and the neurons) type question and then investigated. We asked 'which tree was the best umbrella' ds came out with a horse chestnut tree as the branches were low and the leaves were big and could tell dh all about this when we got home. We picked up large sticks to make spiders webs out of and then we'll make pom pom spiders to go on them.

We're writing a daily diary and taking photos and any drawings (like hens teeth in this family ) are being stuck in. I'm letting him take photos tomorrow as he loves doing this and will stick the printed ones in his book.

That is a lovely idea to make a diary/ scrap book of all the things she's done during the summer. I could wright a caption in her words and get her to wright one word in the caption. I'm really looking forward to this, Thanks. She can show it to her nursery teacher too.