Need ideas to entertain for my 2.9 year old daughter

[kulit17]

Like the titles states, I need ideas to entertain my daughter. Tired of walking around the mall pointlessly and going to those indoor play areas. I've done chuck-e-cheese and it disgusting and annoying since it seems people working there don't care if areas are a complete mess. Actually went to a place in Nashua NH with an indoor merry go round and kiddie rides which was pretty good, but would love to hear other ideas from other TB fathers

[john turner]

we made the rounds of local playgrounds, zoo, aquarium (atlanta has fantastic facilities for both) and museums. i kept the focus on the interractions with my daughter, constantly talking to her about things, asking her things, etc, so it wouldn't get old.

we'd find little things that she really liked - little decorations in a window of a store, or a particular animal or fish in the zoo or aquarium, and then we'd ask her stuff about them on the ride home, or that night at bedtime. then, we'd go back in a few days, and see if the thing was still there, and if we could find it again. made for a fun little game and kept her mentally engaged in the trips, plus removed the need from having to come up with new places to visit all the time.

as my (twin) boys are starting to get old enough to recognize the same kind of things (they're 14 months old now) we're going to try it with them too and see how well it works. their personalities are very different, so it should be very interesting.

[sandmangeck]

Great points John.

My 5 year old loves to play hand drums, paint, anything creative really. Cooking also! Let her season the food, she will start figuring out what she likes to taste. Have a cookie decorating party. It can get messy, but that is what kids are supposed to do.

[hover]

Is this for general stuff or is it the winter stir-crazies?

Quality time spent is just that. No need to second guess it. Over-stimulation is a concern too, or builds expectations to keep up that routine. Strike a balance.

I don't presume you don't do this all already, but since you're asking... simply read to her. Hang out at home and just watch a flick. Go on a hike, or a long drive just because, playing "i spy" the whole time. Snow angels. Sledding.

As was said, instill a sense of wonder by engaging in conversation that gets the curiosity flowing. Have fun.

[Clark Dark]

Try your local library. Sometimes they'll have some childrens programs and you can let her pick some books from the kids section for you to read to her.

[DwaynieAD]

very interested in this thread. I don't have my older son all the time so I'm always looking for quality activities to do with him when I do have him.

[JFOC]

Originally Posted by kulit17

Actually went to a place in Nashua NH with an indoor merry go round and kiddie rides which was pretty good, but would love to hear other ideas from other TB fathers

Was it Jokers? I use to work at the portsmouth one a lifetime ago...

I go for a walk with my niece in the woods outside my place about once a week. Shes only a year old is strapped onto a sled but she seems to enjoy it.

Maybe try tubing? Shes young but as long as your there supervising it should be fine.

[bassteban]

Get her outside early on so she doesn't realize she's bucking the morph-into-the-electronic entertainment device trend/plague. Parks, real playgrounds and play structures, walks in woods and trails- considering her level of mobility- little legs get tired(& naps ROCK)

[tastybasslines]

My daughter is 3.2 years old, and I've found that the most important thing is to just engage with her. I teach mine bass, or read alot of books with her. She LOVES books. We sit on the floor together and draw, play with blocks and build stuff or kick a ball back and forth in the kitchen. As I live in Southern California, we can still go out alot, and when we do, we go hiking, or to the park mostly.

Most importantly, just be engaged with her. Kids, especially at that age have little emotional gas tanks, and it's your job to keep them filled.

[bassteban]

Tip: May not so much apply to you, but my brood(now 13, 11 & 7)draw SO MUCH that I'm pretty sure we've single-handedly deforested more than our share of the worlds' forest regions... resulting in PILES of artwork. Beautiful, touching moments in time, but again- PIIILES. They can be VERY attached to the stuff if it lies around, and HOWL if they spot their latest masterpiece in the trash... GOD FORBID you toss a *gift*... we try to pull a few choice pieces per month and recycle the rest. Same general idea can work well for toys if you are blessed w/a troop of collectors, and enjoy the look on their faces when the get a new little thingie... pardon the semi-derail.

[LexD]

Some of the activities I do frequently do with my daughter that involve neither computers or television

• Drawing
• Coloring (crayons, pencils, markers, sidewalk Chalk)
• Painting (finger painting)
• Practice with Scissors, cutting out shapes
• Shrinky Dinks
• Lego, Blocks, Dominoes
• Water gun and Water balloon battles
• Dress up
• Hide and Seek
• Spy Missions (Walkie talkies and costumes optional - imagination a must)
• Cooking
• Puzzles
• Sing-alongs (Itsy-bitsy spider, Row Row Row, Your boat, etc.)
• Story time
• Tea Party

[bassteban]

This also worked/still works well- let her play your instruments- use your discretion and supervise/teach.. except for hand drums and percussion items( seek bomb shelter).

[Febs]

Originally Posted by john turner

as my (twin) boys are starting to get old enough to recognize the same kind of things (they're 14 months old now) we're going to try it with them too and see how well it works. their personalities are very different, so it should be very interesting.

My twin boys are just about the same age (now 16 months). We took them to the zoo a couple of months ago, and they enjoyed it, but were still just a bit too small to really appreciate it. I'm looking forward to this spring and summer, though, because we will be trying many of the things that you listed -- zoo, aquarium, museums, etc.

My band organized a fundraiser last week for pancreatic cancer research. We brought the boys to that (we had rented a banquet room in a local restaurant, so it was family friendly) and they had a blast.

[pickles]

Park outside and convert your garage into a kid zone. Kid size basketball hoop, trike and cones, boxes, all manner of balls, and make it as kid safe as you can so they can go nuts while you chill.

[pickles]

My first son loved to sit in a Bjorne chair while I played bass and sang to him. Second will have none of that (he's 4 months). Oh well!

[BassMom88]

Have you been to The Butterfly Place in Westford, MA? That's great for little ones and you get some great pictures!!
Also Frog Pond on Boston Common can be a lot of fun.

Do check out the Library too as mentioned and for all sorts of special town events. They also may have discount tickets for some Boston museums and maybe some right in your town too.

My husband spent dozens of hours just playing tunes for our daughter at that age to the point where she could recognize any instrument, jazz singer or Beatle....and that's actually what she still remembers the most

Enjoy every second - It flies by so quickly!!

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by sandmangeck

Great points John.

My 5 year old loves to play hand drums, paint, anything creative really. Cooking also! Let her season the food, she will start figuring out what she likes to taste. Have a cookie decorating party. It can get messy, but that is what kids are supposed to do.

I like this idea

I will be following too, as I will be having a daughter soon

[fdeck]

Outdoors > Indoors

Definitely anything that involves making noise or a mess.

[mc_muench]

it looks like your Wal makes her happy.


BTW that is one of the funniest pictures Ive ever seen, it was my background for quite a while, thats not creepy right?

[buzzbass]

Phart Putty. My 12 yr old daughter brought home a container of it and I was entertained all weekend