Playing with a 3 year old

[Zoogeek]

I'm looking for ideas as I've realised I've gotten into a rut and I'm feeling sorry for DD1, who will be 3 in June, because since DD2 arrived we do the same things (lots of pretend play basically because it allows me to sit on the sofa and feed the baby) but not things like puzzles and I guess more educational stuff. I'm wanting something that we can do together that will really engage her as I really do feel for her as to her it must seem that I am always be feeding or tending to the baby (and it feels like that to me too!) But I'm no good at play (all I want to do is read a book with a cup of tea!) so I've never had very good ideas for playing with a toddler. Any suggestions?

My 3 year old loves the Shopping Game (think it's Orchard Games?) - it's a good one because you can all play at the same level, rather than having to let them win.

Ooooo I've never heard of this - is this the right thing?

www.amazon.co.uk/Orchard-Toys-003-Shopping-List/dp/B0007VTA5S

My son is 3. He loves play doh, but he REALLY loves his wooden playhouse with play food etc. he nips in and out the back door and plays for hours in it.
I'm watching with interest as I often feel I don't do enough with him.

Dd1 is 3 and loves it when i do treasure hunts for her. Really simple clues thay I read to her then follow behind with dd2 while she hunts for them.
Also second the orchard games - dd1 lovrs the recipe one!

Orchard games on order. What a good idea re treasure hunts, never would have thought of it but DD1 will love that I'm sure. Keep the great ideas coming!

We came to this realisation too a few months ago. We invested in quite a bit. Ended up getting:

Orchard Games - Shopping List, Ladybirds, Pirate Shapes, Old MacDonald Lotto, Dotty Dinosaurs
Foam blocks for building, copying etc
Playdoh with biscuit cutters
Gruffalo memory game (but there are a lot more to chose from)
Lots of books from the library for story time
ELC Rockin' Robot (discontinued now but may be on eBay)
A few jigsaws that are too hard for him to do by himself
ELC threading buttons
Octogons
Art and craft stuff
Some of the Usborne activity sticker books
Galt Magnetic Shapes
Melissa and Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards

A number of these are can be choking hazards, so go with what you are comfortable with.

I hope you find with this helpful.

I meant Octons

We also do hand prints with dd1 painting her hands and making prints and me doing the baby's - she lives the feel of the paint and dd1 loves looking at the difference in size! Also nothing beats a bit of den building (we use kitchen chairs and a blanket) - not very educational but lots of fun! Only other suggestion is we sometimes buy a magazine as a treat and then sit together and do the workbooks and puzzles inside.

I have a 2.5 year old and a newborn.

YY to Orchard Toys puzzles and games. YY to CBeebies magazine on a Wednesday.

I'm much better at doing an actual activity with DD. We enjoy playdoh, baking fairy cakes / flapjacks / biscuits, gluing and sticking, painting and digging in the garden.

These are afternoon activities following a toddler group / park in the morning. They are her reward for being patient when I'm feeding DS.

With the craft I cover the kitchen table in newspaper so it's really easy to clean up. I buy rolls of value wallpaper for painting.

When we're done I run a bowl of soapy water and let her stand on a chair to 'wash up' as she enjoys that.

I'm extremely lucky though because DS will nap at the moment and he loves his bouncy chair so I can make time for her where others may struggle if their newborn is more demanding.

Wow brilliant ideas here thank you...she's currently playing the shopping game with her a Grandma and loving it! Baby is high maintenance, doesn't like to be put down and that's no I've ended up playing lots of imagination games with her, lots of let's pretend d, but nothing more challenging like puzzles etc cos it's not often my hands are free (poor little mite!)

Do you have a little table and chairs) Ikea do a reasonably priced set.

Makes it easier to do puzzles, craft, playdoh etc whilst holding a newborn because you can sit on the floor holding the newborn across your lap and still reach the table top whilst the other DC sits on the little chair.

Dd loves baking and making play doh (really easy to make). Imagination tree and learning 4 kids have lots of not hard to do ideas. Also, our local library had free craft Fridays - check those as maybe just getting out to something where someone else has all the mess might be good.

What did you do with her before dd2 arrived? Could you try to make some time to do those things with her as she's a 'big girl' while dd2 'watches?'

My dd1 is 3.5 and dd2 is 10 weeks old. dd1 loves baking, reading and arts and crafts if we're at home. Otherwise, playdates, library trips, soft play, parks and - if it's been a really bad night! - lots of Cbeebies! She also loves hama beads (watch they don't drop onto the floor though) and stickers. Try your local B&M or pound shop for cheap craft supplies.We also build things with blocks - towers / streets of houses / zoo enclosures etc, and once I got her to line up all the blocks end to end to see how long a line they would make - kept her busy for ages and she really enjoyed it! Picnics when the weather gets better, and den building with sheets and chairs. And even just looking through things like lakeland catelogue to see what looks the yummiest! Enjoy...