How do you interact with your kids?

Ilovepeppers

I know I am meeting their needs but sometimes I have no idea how to spend time with them. What I mean is, my kids are 1, 2 & 3 and they are all on different levels. However, I dont ever have the opportunity to spend time with just one. So, ive tried crafts and my 3 y/o loved it but my 1 year old ripped up all the paper and my 2 year old kept trying to color on everything...
I've tried ABC games, blocks, coloribg, baking, dolls... I just dont know what to do with all three.

Any ideas? Whatever I try becomes overwhelming and we end up stopping. They also wont sit still for movies.

CaptainGordo

My dog and working the MFP forums take all of my time. I leave it all up to the TV.


Oh, I kid. Good luck. Thank heaven you are concerned. I'm sure that you will get it figured out.

ket_the_jet

Hmm...Irish triplets is a tough situation.

I don't have kids, but I'd expect it would be the same as hanging out with your three least-developed friends. Start an argument between two, watch the third pick a side, and pour yourself a few shots.

That or Legos.
-wtk

queenpushycat

I wish I have kids to join in this discussion

AEcklar813

It is a tough situation. I only have one child and she's 2 and sometimes it's hard enough for me to find ideas to keep her busy. On Saturday nights we have movie night. She gets to pick a movie and we have some snacks and watch it together. We started doing that when she was about 15 months old or so. She didn't do as well with it then as she doe snow though. Also, blocks work well with those age groups, maybe some outside games if the weather is nice. Follow the leader? If all else fails try googling some ideas. Hope you find some fun things to do with the kids!

cessnaholly

You could go to a playground with them or take them for a walk in the woods? That way they can run and can't really get to far.

Finger painting is good or playing in the tub - shaving cream "paint".

Qarol

I wish I have kids to join in this discussion

I don't wish I had kids...oh wait, I really don't. yay!!!

vim_n_vigor

My boys are 21 months apart. One game they really like to play is for me to call out different 'things' like animals or vehicles, etc. and then they have to go across the room imitating that creature. A turtle crawls slowly, a penguin waddles, etc. Then they run back to me and I give them a new thing to act out. It is really funny some of the things they come up with!

Another fun one is to get some sugar cookies from the store (dough) and let the kids decorate them, they can frost them, or put sprinkles on, etc. It is messy, but they have fun.

Last year, my boys made all of our ornaments for our tree. I got a bunch of wooden ornaments from a craft store - really cheap. I got some paints, glitter, and glitter glue, covered the entire room in plastic, put them in old clothes, and let them go. It was the most beautiful tree ever!

kissiefish

Don't stop interacting with them. Remember you have minutes per age. a 3 yr old has a 3 min attention span. A 1 yr old..yup, you have them for about a minute.
Plan activities with the 3 yr old and corral the other two with something harmless yet fun. If you want to teach letters, get cookies sheets out....put pudding or something similar in the pans (pie tins work too) and let the little two go at it....all about texture and temperature for them (cold pudding is best!!) and they will practice food to the face/mouth. Then help the older one fashion letters in the pudding...and then eat. Fun with food. There are a LOT of websites out there to help you with ideas for age ranges.

1 yr olds are about shape and color. Get the older ones to help the young one FIND things they hide in doll houses, cars, etc but make sure they are big enough that the baby does not swallow them. building blocks are fun for a few minutes too....but you don't have to entertain them all at the same time.

Find age appropriate activities and distract the other two in a play pen or play room or high chair etc while you focus on the one you want to focus on. As they all play together, as they get older they will entertain others and you will have more fun planning.

In the winter we did "beach in the bath tub day" where we laid out beach towels in the bathroom and "sunned" under the lights and space heater (WAY AWAY from the tub please) and spashed in our bathing suits in the tub.

FORTS and TENTS among the furniture are always fun. Stories in a special tent are great memories.

all in all, they will remember that you loved them and took time for them...individually and as a group.

GOOD JOB MOM!

autiemommy

My kids arent that young anymore mine are 9 5 and 3 but the younger two are special needs have you tried building a fort with them in the living room and bringing things to play in or turn on a kids music cd and running around or having a dance party. My kids arent big into movies either so we make it a slumber party or picnic and we all bring blankeys and pillows and have snacks and make funny faces with all the diff foods and it can be educational by cutting the fruit veggies in diff shapes and such and asking for that color or shape. etc. I hope you find some ideas that work.. You have your hands full.

NeePants

I'm not sure exactly what their developmental levels are but you could try building a blanket and cushion fort in the lounge room, reading stories and engaging each of them with an age appropriate question (Johnny can you find the puppy?, Sarah what colour is the flower?, Tim how many ducks are there?), taking them out into the back yard or local park and looking at nature and encouraging them to show you what they find or just generally being there for them to guide you in what they want to do.

Iheartsushi

Hmmm..entertaining kids can sometimes be challenging..especially when you have three different ages going on. I would pick an activity but give them different tasks that are suitable for their age. So maybe with finger painting the 1 year old can just play with the paper, the 2 year old and stick on some stickers, and the 3 year old can 'paint' the final touches? Kind of like an assembly line, you know? Or...you could always get the three year old set up with their own activity and find something else for the other two.

Also..getting out and active is always fun. My 3 year old loved taking walks at 1, 2, and 3 lol. Get the three year old on a scooter, have the 2 year old walk and hold onto the stroller you have the baby in lol

Good luck!

hperowl

Just sit on the floor and let them bring things to you. Have your 3yo teach the younger ones how to complete puzzles or other cognitive toys. Just be patient and if things get out of control clean it up and take a snack break, try again later. The attention span of a 1-2 yo is only about 15-20 minutes anyway. When the little ones are napping try a 1-on-1 with the 3yo. The important thing is that you are there! That's what counts in the end:bigsmile: Hope this helps! Sincerely, a mom of 4.

autiemommy

Finger painting is good or playing in the tub - shaving cream "paint".


My kids love playing in shaving cream. And of course we have a small inside sand box that they like and a tote full of beans and such and they dig through to find little plastic toys ... Fun

AloyMomNwife

bump

melissalan

My son and daughter were 14 months apart and total opposites. They shared a room until ages 4 and 5, so I was able to go into their room with them and let them do what they wanted. I would just engage in whatever they were playing with.
Don't worry, you don't have to constantly "entertain" them.

zeeeb

bubbles... everyone loves bubbles.... get 4 so there is no fighting, the one year old will drink it, the 2 year old will drink it, and the 3 year old will attempt to blow bubbles getting them all over their clothes.

and you will blow the bubbles and everyone else will chase them.

crafts, just get old magazines, cards, wrapping paper and cut them into small pieces and paste them onto something. it doesn't matter if it's drawing, pasting, ripping, whatever goes. don't stress about the mess or the end product, just let them enjoy creating, or ripping their own artwork.

music and dancing is always fun (and good exercise too). stick on some kiddie music and dance away, get a couple of hairbrush microphones going and you'll be set (until someone loses an eye).

it's the nature of the beast, they fight, they cry, they carry on, they interrupt, but occasionally they have some fun in between.

JennW130

Hmm...Irish triplets is a tough situation.

I don't have kids, but I'd expect it would be the same as hanging out with your three least-developed friends. Start an argument between two, watch the third pick a side, and pour yourself a few shots.

That or Legos.
-wtk

:laugh:

sunkisses

Honestly, your presence in everyday life with them is great interaction. The oldest might appreciate that your're doing something with him/her and the siblings can tag along, but they're never going to remember what you did with them, just that you were always there with them. As they get older it'll get easier. The interaction with all three will blend together better. But for now, try not to stress out. These are the perfect years to work out the kinks

TracyJackson1969

I have a 3 year old grandson and twin granddaughters and they are on totally different levels. I believe your 1 year olds attention span is not going to coincide with the 2 or 3 year olds no matter what activity you decide on. So, you will have to find a variety of things to do to keep the 1 year olds attention. I know this is not the answer you were looking for but this is a hard situation.

tammietifanie

Sometimes its just simple things like blowing bubbles, going for a walk and looking for bugs, birds, etc, Playing simple games like rolling the ball back and forth to each other. Building blocks and letting the older two knock them down

Elleinnz

Sounds as if your three kids actually all had fun with the crafts.- and all did what kids their age do (and need to do).....sometimes as parents we just need to forget "our rules" and go with the flow!! Give the 1 year old a stack of magazines or newspapers to rip up to their hearts content....

Give the 2 year old a stack of old paper to draw on - and let the 3 year old get on with creating crafts....

My son (now 30) still remembers the "camping" we used to do in the sitting room - chairs, cardboard boxes - blankets and sheets and we made tents - and would then have a picknic (our lunch or snack) in our tents....

zeeeb

my kids will colour in forever if i sit and do it with them, but not for long if i expect them to do it on their own. same with tea parties and playdough.

russellma

Read books... lots and lots of books! I had 3 kids in 4 years, and that was one thing I could do. You can also let the older ones be the "big" helpers by playing with the baby along with you... peek-a-boo, blocks, doing whatever it takes to make him/her laugh. You might all end up rolling on the floor!

I won't pretend that it's always easy or you'll never feel like pulling your hair out, but try to remember that this too shall pass!

ritajean3

playdough, visit the park, swimming, singing and dancing, go to a playgroup and learn what to do from the activities they have there and also your craft sounds fine 3 yo got what they needed, 2 yo was developing fine motor skills and 1yo was occupied and not screaming


you can also make goop (water and cornflour) and let them play with it outside, painting, kicking a ball around outside ect

JennW130

bubbles... everyone loves bubbles.... get 4 so there is no fighting, the one year old will drink it, the 2 year old will drink it, and the 3 year old will attempt to blow bubbles getting them all over their clothes.

and you will blow the bubbles and everyone else will chase them.

crafts, just get old magazines, cards, wrapping paper and cut them into small pieces and paste them onto something. it doesn't matter if it's drawing, pasting, ripping, whatever goes. don't stress about the mess or the end product, just let them enjoy creating, or ripping their own artwork.

music and dancing is always fun (and good exercise too). stick on some kiddie music and dance away, get a couple of hairbrush microphones going and you'll be set (until someone loses an eye).

it's the nature of the beast, they fight, they cry, they carry on, they interrupt, but occasionally they have some fun in between.

the music thing works in this house....i clean up...my 4 yr old uses the broom to sing and dance, and my 1 yr old...well she "dances" and claps and follows her brother...except its not kiddie music. But Nothing with any F bombs or anything. Just so they can go and destroy it all again.

deeharley

Edible play dough - Dry milk, peanut butter and honey - I used to know the specific recipe. It's like a cup of milk, 1/3 cup of peanut butter and a couple tablespoons of honey.

Anyway, all four of you can play or eat to your heart's content. My two youngest are 12 and 13 and now make it for themselves.

mmoyer1978

I think you're doing a fine job. They're not all going to like the same things all the time. I have two girls who are 2 & 4. I'm lucky because my youngest thinks the sun rises and sets on her big sister and therefore they like a lot of the same things. The problem I run into is that my 4yr old is really anal and thinks that the only way to do anything is her way. My 2yr old is more of a free spirit and does her own version of whatever her sister is doing. They butt heads a lot but they get along well for the most part. Trial and error is the way to go.

MrsSpratt

I think you need to lower the activity level as much as you can without completely ignoring the oldest one. Or adapt a project for the littlest one. For example, while your older two paint at the table, put the baby in the high chair and have him/her finger "paint" with chocolate pudding. Or, when baking cookies, prepare the dough while the youngest is napping then let all three decorate with sprinkles when nap time is over.

I agree with the suggestion to take walks and go to the play ground. Getting them out definitely helps. I only have two (20 months and 3.5 years) and I struggle to find activities they both can do. It is totally impossible to read to both of them at the same time. If I try to read to my son's level, my daughter tries to take over and point everything out and answer all my questions. If I read to my daughter's level, my son gets bored and grabs the book and tries to tear it.

JACLYN007

I have the same issue only my kids are 3 and 5. The best thing for us is playing outside, and singing and dancing, they love that!

EDesq

I know I am meeting their needs but sometimes I have no idea how to spend time with them. What I mean is, my kids are 1, 2 & 3 and they are all on different levels. However, I dont ever have the opportunity to spend time with just one. So, ive tried crafts and my 3 y/o loved it but my 1 year old ripped up all the paper and my 2 year old kept trying to color on everything...
I've tried ABC games, blocks, coloribg, baking, dolls... I just dont know what to do with all three.

Any ideas? Whatever I try becomes overwhelming and we end up stopping. They also wont sit still for movies.

Are you saying that you are giving all of them the same "Stuff" to do? If so, that's a mistake! Give each one what is on THEIR Own level. Why would you try to interject yourself into THEIR Play Time. This is a time that they are learning for themselves. Give them their thing, SEPARATE them and leave them alone UNLESS someone asks for help...

LATER on, you WILL get an opportunity to have ALONE time with each. But do not become their "Play Mate" or Dictator as they play. Play time is VERY Important to growing kids...they need to learn initiative, autonomy and ingenuity.