Activities for a three year old boy?

[greenlizard]

Hi I am babysitting my 3 year old nephew next week for a day - usually I babysit him at night and he goes to bed fairly early after his dinner/bath so I am at a bit of a loss.

He is very energetic/engaging but doesn't like play grounds very much (just doesn't seem interested) and I am 8 months pregnant so can't play as much football as much as I did . Also he is coming to my house which is not exactly set up with loads of things to do for a toddler. I would like to do something with him - like make some stuff/painting/cooking etc. rather than watch TV/DVD's

What would you suggest?

Have a look on Pinterest. There're lots of recipes for gunk and silly putty type stuff which look fun. Not that I've ever actually got around to making any

Mine enjoys making biscuits or cakes and then eating them so some kind of simple baking?

Cut up an old egg box, get him to paint it yellow. On a piece of paper, get him to use a bit of an old sponge to print some yellow petals. Stick the egg box in the middle with some pva glue and then either glue a green lollypop stick or a green pipe cleaner underneath or draw the stem with green pen/pencil/paint. Hey presto, you have a daffodil. Take him out beforehand to look at the growing daffies and smell them (or buy a bunch from the supermarket) so he knows what they are.

Get some of your pots and pans and cooking utensils out and let him 'cook'.

Make some cornflake buns and even put those little chicks and mini eggs on top.

Buy or make some playdough and make biscuits/buns/whatever with them.

Chocolate cornflake cakes, painting, playdough, cardboard box and some crayons (make it into a bus, spaceship, tractor). Def go on Pinterest it's got some great stuff

Can't remember if 3 year olds can play dominoes. Mine loved that! And snap! Or a lovely Usborne sticker book which you can talk about together while he decides where to stick things

It's Mothers Day next month (a bit away)... but get him to make something for mummy? Hand print flower or heart? Spell mummy's name with his fingers / hands..?

I thought these recipes were cool...

www.cookingclassy.com/2012/03/cinnamon-roll-mug-cake-made-in-3-minutes/
www.theneighborhoodmoms.com/microwave-monkey-bread/

Cooking - keep it simple, quick and fun eg crispie cakes. You can also get decorate a gingerbread man sets from Sainsbury's which are good.

Play doh is always good or making Chinese lanterns (check out YouTube) or doing a treasure hunt with picture clues or hiding chocolate coins or something similar in the garden. If you can get a pack of cheap crayons you can get some good magazines from the newsagents with pictures to colour and stickers etc.

Get him outside in the garden if you can because he will need to use up some energy. Even if it's just you standing there blowing bubbles while he runs around chasing them or making and throwing paper aeroplanes.

Just a general comment. Children that age do have short attention spans so look our for signs of waning interest eg starts playing up, wandering off etc and don't feel too hurt if he's not interested in something you've got ready to do with him. Sometimes they're just not in the mood for certain things.

He may be a bit hyper because of the novelty of you looking after him so please don't feel like an abject failure if you do need to put the tv on for a bit so you can just have a breather and a cuppa. We all do it.

Good luck with your day and your impending baby!