Struggling with 3 year old DS and activities/behaviour

[Flipzandchipz]

Looking for inspiration of activities I can do with 3 year old DS. He is lots of fun and has huge amounts of energy but his speech is delayed and he doesn’t follow instructions and we’re struggling to think of ways to interact with/entertain him

We have speech therapy involved and are working on the techniques given and he is improving.

It is hard to say whether his behaviour is normal or not for a 3 year old as he’s our only child, other children we know his age seem more communicative

Taking him out can be pretty stressful, he has no sense of danger and will run ahead, he doesn’t listen if you tell him to slow down or wait so we’ve resorted to a backpack with reins so he can walk ahead a little without needing to constantly hold hands but can’t run into the road.

He won’t do any kind of activity where you sit still or have to follow instructions as he won’t sit still or focus. His main things he likes are cars/trains but playdough, painting, colouring in bore him

So I thought the solution would be to take him to the park or get him out to places where he can run about relatively safely, eg country parks/the beach to tire him out and burn off energy. This morning we’ve tried to have a run about and he’s don’t it for a bit then just found a place to sit and then wanted to pick up dirt/mud and toss it over his head/clothing, he’s developed a recent habit of wanting to do this. I’m all for kids getting a bit dirty but it’s like he’s no interest in walking about.

Has anyone got a child similar and have you any tips?

When I say he’s lots of fun he likes to get DH and I involved in his play, we’ll play chase or hide and seek. He’s also not one for tantrums, if he’s upset it is pretty short lived and he likes to give lots of cuddles, will share his food etc so he’s a very kind child, I just struggle to think of how to interact more. I’d love to bake/paint/draw but he’s just not really interested

Would he do any better with an activity involving other children? What about something movement based like toddler gymnastics or some kind of sensory kids group activity? I can’t offer certain advice re his speech but my son is 2.5 and aside from the speech you mention I think the other behaviours are fairly common in feisty toddlers! I find in a group setting my son is more compliant and it does capture his attention better if it’s not just me and him. I am going to take ds to kids ice skating soon.. they start very slowly but I think he will enjoy it. Could you find something similar? Good luck!

Thank you! ☺️
I did try him with some classes, one was more structured than the other, a bit like a dance class for toddlers. At the more structured one he just ran all over the room and didn’t join in anything 🙈 he didn’t really bother the other kids, only the odd occasion where I had to intervene. At the less structured one he would also run around but it was lots of sensory type stuff so could and did join in as and when. He did enjoy it so I look for another similar one. Difficult is the weekends. No where has classes and all the soft play stuff tends to be booked for parties. We do have an ice rink near that we could try.

Things my 3 year old likes:

Making mud paint by digging some dirt, mixing it with water and painting things in the garden with it. You can also crush up floor chalks to make paint in this way.

Playing teddy hospital. Get some stuffed toys and make up some ailments. Give him a doctors kit and some plasters and a bit of bandage from the first aid kit. Set up a waiting room which is just a blanket on the floor and sit some teddies on it. Send them in to the doctor and describe the issue to the doctor, sore arm, cold, broken finger, ingrown toenail, whatever. The doctor mends each teddy.

If he likes hide and seek he might also like hide the teddy. Take turns to hide the teddy in the lounge and the other has to find it.

At this time of year go out and collect conkers. You can then use them as currency in a pretend shop or cafe. He can sell you stuff or make you a snack and you can pay him.

Play treasure hunters. Find a mat or big box and this is your boat. Make a map or just use a pizza menu or something. Make a bag up of torch, telescope or binoculars, compass, torch, gun, whatever adventure type stuff you have. Sit in boat, sail/row to treasure island, look out for land, get off boat and use map to find treasure and fight off bad guys, carry treasure back to boat. Rinse and repeat.

Paint/draw/stamp/sticker a sheet of A4 paper, write a message on it, put it in an envelope, write an address and put a stamp on it and post it in a post box. Send to someone you see a lot like Grandma so he will see it at their house. Also send a letter to yourselves and help him understand how the post works. Will enjoy getting his own letter back!

Paint a picture and then make a paper aeroplane out of it.

Make an obstacle course in the back garden where he has to jump over things, throw things in a bucket, step through a hoop etc.

Sit in the car and let him pretend he is driving somewhere. Come up with some sort of story about where you are going. Take a hot drink in a thermal mug so you can chill a bit.

If he likes vehicles, go somewhere on the train or bus, it's exciting when you are 3 l, even if it is just to the shops.

Also make some music together. Get kiddy instruments out and sing some nursery rhymes or make up your own song. My lad likes to sing about corn, or bottoms, or whatever daft thing he can think up.

Ah @99RedBallonz thank you so much, these are lovely ideas. I am loving the mud paint and obstacle course ideas. Also your username! ☺️