Entertaining a 3 yr old on a budget

Spendless

purplepatch wrote:

Had thought about swimming but DD2 hasn't had her jabs yet. Due to have first one next Monday - can we go after that does anyone know?

Check with your HV or MW. I can't remember if it was the whole course or just so many jabs mine had to have before going swimming.

highland

Hi purplepatch check the surestart site there may be some groups in your area I know my friend is in Kent and the surestart run a swimming thing for little ones but think they do all sorts.

black-saturn

I used to go to an NCT coffee morning about once a week and a mother and toddler group on a couple of afternoons. Once a week I would take the hour long walk to the nearest park and another day the hour long walk to the seafront (we live right next to the seafront now). Once a week visit my nan and go to a friends another day. My oldest was only 2 when my youngest was born so I remember about the military operation.

morganb

Have you been to Hever Castle? You can pay for it with Tesco clubcard vouchers; they have got an amazing play area and a brilliant water maze, well worth a visit.

purplepatch

morganb wrote:

Have you been to Hever Castle? You can pay for it with Tesco clubcard vouchers; they have got an amazing play area and a brilliant water maze, well worth a visit.

I have indeed and that water maze was excellent! Didn't know about the clubcard vouchers, so will look into that. Thanks.

Alleycat

For things to do in the house that are cheap, my dd loves sticking. So I nabbed all the out of date catalogues and magazines that people could spare and cut out all sorts of pictures. I've put them in an old envelope and she can get out the prit stick and have fun making pictures. Also, making things with newspaper and cellotape. I made a tickling stick the other week like those palm tree things we used to make as kids. Roll the newspaper up, tape it down, cut strips to about half way down and then pull from the middle. Also making paper hats and other 'outfits' out of newspaper. A bit mucky with all the print, but cheap and cheerful.

Also painting bits of pasta and making bracelets, necklaces etc.

When the weather picks up if you have a garden, you can get a tray like a cat litter one or plastic tray that veges have come in and make a garden. I used to love doing this. Find moss for grass, twigs for trees, matchsticks to make fences etc.

Peakma

I have a 3 1/2 year old,she will start school this time next year ,and I will miss being with her so much.
The other day we did some magic painting,using white crayon to make invisable pictures,I did one for her with just a simple house,tree,bird,flower,cat etc for her to find-just paint over with kids water colours.
We sometimes just cut out paper people holding hands,or make collages with old magazines.Or decorate old washing tablet boxes with nice wrapping paper,sequins,stickers etc.
she likes helping do the gardening looking under stones for bugs,or helping to mop the floor etc,it takes longer than doing it alone,and is sometimes frustrating,but to her it is fun!
She loves to help cook,a good one we did the other day was cheese scones,quick,fun,simple and healthy-ish!
8 oz of s.r flour
1 1/2 oz fat-margarine
1 teaspoon of baking powder
pinch of salt
and as much milk it takes to make a stiff dough-just add a bit more flour if you go too sloppy.

for cheese scones add;
1 teaspoon of mustard powder
2oz of chedder
some mixed herbs
for cherry scones add
1 oz sugar
as many cherries as desired,halved.
add dry ingredients,and rub together with fat to make "breadcrumbs" add milk to make firm dough,add cheese(save enough to sprinkle a little on top)/cherries.Grease baking tray,either shape by hand to balls and flatten to about 2cm thick,or roll out to about 2cm and cut out rounds.glaze with a finger full of milk,and cook on 220 c for about 10m mins,so yummy!
She also really likes this site http://www.poissonrouge.com/ -which I first saw on here ages ago,she will sit and entertain her self on here for as long as I will let her,she was on hours the other day when I was being busy.She finds it easy to navigate herself around the site,and amazes me with her mouse control.
Also likes hide and seek,it's so obvious where she is,but you have to do all the silly ones-are you under the sofa cushion? in the washing basket? on the ceiling? etc..
I really dread her starting school,I'l have to do serious things all day instead! I think I'l end up being a child minder in 20 years,otherwise I'l end up being the sort of Mum who says "are you going to give me grandchildren yet!"

gravitytolls

As others have said ... cutting and sticking - old catalogues, bits of cloth etc. to amke collages. Cheap as chips. Baking, always a fun activity. Digging in teh garden (bit windy at teh mo though). Dancing together, hide 'n' seek type games.

Out of the house, the park's always popular, but it's a bit chilly. Any foresty areas, lots of fun to be had in trees with wellies and puddles.

And check out local papers/newsletters for family groups. They're genreally dead cheap, the children play with lots of toys and children, mum g ets to natter with other mum's, and everyone comes home ready for lunch and anap.