Structured play for a 2.9 year old - please help

[Monkeytrousers]

For rainy days. Everything I try it ends up everywhere - sand pit = sand everywhere; play dough = play dough everywhere; painting = paint on the walls and evrywhere. He doesn't have the greatest concentration and is a late talker so maybe gets frustrated.

Any suggestions welcome.

DS doesn't go for crafts either. I have his toys sorted into three boxes. On rainy days, we do a swap, so he gets a fresh set of toys to play with. Or we get him wellied up and just brave the elements. Not much fun if the rain is heavy and in his face, but when it's just pitter patter raindrops, it's not too bad.

Thanks Corrie {smile}

ds is 2.9 and loves the following on rainy days

Indoor treasure hunts..I draw about 6-8 items on a peice of paper and go through it with him, give him a shopping bag and off he goes to get the things on the list which he then will bring back for inspection.

Obstacle course..old cot mattress, a stool, some cushions, some boxes etc set up for him to climb on, over, jump into etc, put some music on and let him go for it

Action songs..row row your boat, ring a rosie, head shoulders etc

Special rainy day box (my ds is really into crafty arty stuff though) includes colour in books, painting, collage etc

Bathtime with a little food colouring and bubbles and heaps of toys (we do this a fair bit during the day when weather is manky)

Baking (he loves, loves, loves) this

forgot to add, hide and seek. especially good as I have now trained the dog to go and find him

hmm what do I do with my 2.9 year old on a rainy day......

we do do painting and playdoh, but we are lucky enough to have a playroom/conservatory and I stay with him to minimise the splatter effect..

we also do cutting and sticking - he loves this - get any magazine but preferably old issues of CBeebies mag etc, so he recognises the characters and you cut bits out and he pritt sticks them to the paper to make a picture. He obviously wants to have a go at cutting and he has his own child scissors for that.

We also can kill an hour "tidying" the playroom. i am quite anal and every once in a while I empty ALL the toys onto the floor of the playroom to reassemble the parts back together and put Bob and Wendy back with Scoop and Muck and Fireman Sam with his engine, and the Noah's Ark back together etc, and both my biys love re-discovering all their toys and I satisfy my OCD!! In fact we might do this on Monday if it's raining....

Not very structured but I also put Mary Poppins on occasionally while I play with my 10 month old for a change!!

HTH

Bloss

xx

yawning monster I love your indoor treasure hunt idea and will be doing this next week wih my boy, thanks!

pmsl @ training the dog to find your DS

...wonder if I can train our cat......

go swimming, indoors and will tire him out. Fill sink up with water, pull up a chair, give a few cups will spend hours pouring and having fun. Put a few towels down to absorb any spillage.

Pasta threading, pasta threaded onto string you could make, necklaces, bracelts, superhero sashes, headbands anything that takes your fancy. If you are feeling brave you could then paint them

I love hide and seek with mine. He hides in the same place every time, cannot close his eyes when counting "cos I ned to see where you go mumma". Hilarious. he gets FURIOUS when he can't find me......

oh lots of cool ideas, ta!