I know it has been awhile and I should probably do an update but this is a topic that I would like some help on.
Our summer was a complicated one, with me being pregnant and Ayden getting HFM disease. We spent alot of time inside or with company here to help me with the kids. One of the results of this past summer is Thatcher watches way too much TV. And of course, Ayden is not far behind him. Now that I am feeling better and getting a handle on having 3 little ones at home, I would really like to cut down the TV watching time during the day. That is where I am stumped!! I run out of things for them to do. I need things that they can do while I clean or take care of Blake and also things we can do together. Also these things need to be things we can do at home.(taking all 3 to the park by myself is a task I only take on occasionally) Any suggestions?
Here are some things we already do together:
playdough
coloring
They both "help" me clean when I can let them.
Please post your comments on things for us to do, any help would be greatly appreciated!!
This is a mess, but Brayden LOVES it and spends a long time doing it. Not on our good dining room table, but on our kitchen table, I put shaving cream ALL over it, get him undressed down to his underwear and let him have at it, I have also put in food coloring to make it different colors. You can get sponges and let them play in it. This all least lets me cook or clean. When he is done we run and take a bath. He has an absolute blast, but I can only imagine how it would be with more than one.
ReplyDeleteIt actually sounds like a whole lot of fun! I will have to try it with Thatch! Ayden is still too small, I think he would just eat the shaving cream. LOL! Thanks
ReplyDeleteI'm not a mom (but I've nannied for 5 kids, 8 and under, before!) It truly is a challenge! I am really proud of you for trying to find non TV things for them to do - that is great and not easy!
ReplyDeleteIt may just take some time weaning them off the TV and the boys getting used to doing something else.
Letting them play "drums" or blocks with old tupperware containers/ pots and pans may be noisy, but it might be something they can do while getting lunch and dinner ready. They also can knock over the containers or break them without it being a huge investment loss! I've heard of finger painting with pudding before (they can even paint on each other!). A squirt bottle with water only in it can also be a lot of fun if they want to "clean" the cabinets/table ets while you are cooking/ attending to Blake.
As for outside time, making a stew out of old leaves, petal, twigs etc. can be fun and keeps them running around looking for things to add.
You can also give them some bread dough to play with while you make dinner and it won't hurt them if they eat it!
I'm probably not much help, but what helps me with my "kids" is constantly changing the activity/pace, singing songs for start and end time of certain activities and PRAYING all day long for God's guidance, direction and help! Love you! M