STUFF TO DO WITH KIDS WHO ARE THREE

I have used numerous strategies with varying degrees of success depending on his interests at the time. Here are some of my ideas.

I subscribed to a couple of kid's magazines like Sesame Street and Thomas the Tank Engine which I kept in a basket in our schoolroom. They were always handy to provide a quick story and some special activities just for him.

I also had a couple of workbooks that I pulled out when he wanted to sit at the table and do "school" too. Coloring books also work.

You would be amazed at the kind of mileage I could get out of a pair of scissors and a couple of pieces of paper. When I got a couple of pairs of the scissors that made fancy edges, the mileage increased dramatically.

I set up a computer in the school room and equipped it with headphones. The rule is that during school I get to pick what game he plays (they are all educational but that kept him from choosing a game which required my assistance).

I also had a couple of clear plastic shoeboxes filled with activities just for him. One in particular that he loves is just a pair of tweezers and a couple of plastic dishes. He has to move objects from one dish to the other with the tweezers. Other activity ideas include an egg carton with a handful of small objects to sort into the cups. Stencils for drawing. A Walkman with a story cassette or music that he only gets to listen to if he sits still.

When it came time to sit on the couch and read, I always give him the opportunity to bring me a story to read first if he wants. If he doesn't that is fine too. Our rule is that he is welcome to stay and listen but that he must not disturb us. If he needs to play a noisy game he must go somewhere else to do it.