Bonding time with 3 year old

[Peppadog]

I am really conscious that my middle child, a 3 year old isn't getting enough of my attention.
I am always with his baby brother and his older sibling often dominates conversations when he is home after school.
What suggestions would you give for spending quality time with him? I try to play his make believe games during the week but the baby is there and I know he wants my attention when there is no baby distracting me.
I felt a bit heartbroken today as a friend of mine visited and spent ages talking to him, he really lit up. Then he kept trying to sit on her lap later and giving her cuddles. It made me realise that he appreciated that attention sooo much.

So at the weekend I can leave the baby with dh for up to 3 hours and get out the house. What suggestions do you have for bonding time? And how often do you try to do it? We usually all do things as a family but I think when the baby is there he just sees it as me looking after the baby.

Aw I think it’s lovely you will ha w the time to spend with him one to one so I’m sure he will love anything you do. Weather is getting nicer so some trips to the park? teach him to ride bike when he is ready? Go swimming then to cafe ?

Thank you for your suggestions. He's learnt to ride a bike, I could take him out, I need to get my own bike first. Actually swimming is a really good one. We often go as a family but my youngest is there too, he would probably enjoy a trip just the two of us and he LOVES a cafe!!

Can you reverse it and DH take baby out? The best reconnection time I get with 3 yo DS is just pottering around the house, often in our pyjamas, just dedicating time to playing with him or reading to him without distraction.

I was out for a walk today with one of my step kids (12 years old), and we walked past a Morrison’s cafe and they were talking about how they remembered their mum taking them there every Friday after nursery because apparently it had the best chips. Just thought it was sweet they had this happy memory of something so simple.

Take him to a local farm that has a cafe?
That way you can talk about the things you have seen

or just a simple walk you and him

You don't need to do anything special, just spend a little bit of time with them 1:1.

One of us would often sidle up to one of the dc in a sort of furtive way, look about as if to make sure no-ne could hear, and then ask if {whichever} dc could come and help us do some "important job" ..... or "be co-pilot". Honestly, it could be a trip to the tip, or the car wash, or the supermarket. It didn't matter, it was the fact they had been specially chosen and the others hadn't. It just give valuable time to walk along holding hands, or to be the one to choose the music in the car or whatever. It is about being made to feel important, and like the adult couldn't do the job without you.

This is actually a very good point and not something I had really considered!
He loves playing one on one games more than anything (Playmobil mostly) which obviously needs to be at home. It's just tricky as my eldest is also home at the weekend and if my middle one saw my DH going out with my eldest and the baby he would want to join them.
I guess if I told him we were going to get special playing time then he might choose to stay home, and if he doesn't then he obviously isn't desperately craving the attention!