Any Ideas on how to keep my 4 year old entertained?

Question

I don't want her to watch so much tv, but that does help out a lot. what else can she do when she's at home? Anthing besides coloring? She drives me bonkers at times..but hey, I still love her and think she's cute!

ANY computer-related games or activities is NOT an option. I don't want my 4 yr old staring at a computer for 3 hours!!!!

Answer 1

I went to a neighbors house for a playdate the other day, and on her porch she had 2 water pitchers, a huge bowl of ice and about 10 cups of all different sizes. My daugher and her friend filled up the cups and pitchers, and played with the ice for an hour and a half. They had a ball ! The next day she asked if she could play the "water game" at home.... Watever works

Answer 2

Well, I understand, I've had four children, but still, I'm wondering, what's wrong with sesame street and coloring? Sesame street is the best one, two, or three, hours of TV any one can watch, and I'm including adults. Education you can't beat, plus entertainment!!! Come on!!! On the subject of coloring,... I still color, I'm 44 years old, will be 45 next month, and yes, I LOVE to color! I have a 11 year old daughter, we color together. there are tons of different books to choose from. It's creative and therapeutic, and it's a way for children to have that 'I'm in control of this little environment here, and what I say goes." It doesn't matter if it looks good or not. It goes beyond that. It's probably one of the only places a four year old can say "This is 100% mine!" From start to finish, it's theirs, you know? But, enough of that, when I was four years old, I loved Playforms. Did I say that right? You know, they have a scenery that's smooth but with some different characters and props and they stick to this board, and you would use your imajination, and they could be used endlessly, I didn't think they still made them but they do!! I also like play-doh (spelled right?) I know how to spell dough, but I think it's spelled like I did, but, I don't know how your kid is with it, also, I really enjoyed books, and remember paper dolls? Oh my!!! Hours, and hours I would spend, (I was the youngest and the only girl out of four) But today's world is totally different. We weren't entertained, we entertained ourselves. Today, alot of stuff comes with imajination, well, sometimes, and even then, if it doesn't come 'right out and grab them' they ususally put it down. Oh, yes, light bright!! I still do that, too.You know, there are so many different computerized learning toys, and very reasonably priced, I know because I buy them for kids that arn't even my own because of the price, education and entertainment that's portable, it's like a babysitter when we travel, This is a electronic age we live in, get them introduced, the earlier the better! A few suggestions to an age old problem, (Did I say that right?) You've probably checked out alot of the avenues, children are so very challenging and 'trying'. You sound like a good mother - Good luck!!! p.s. jump rope and jacks, and again I don't know your child but I played both at four and even the coloring books with built-in paint, just add water with a paint brush. It's not messy, just put newspaper under them, clean up's a breeze.They worked well with mine.

Answer 3

Legos. My grandsons love legos and so did I. Yeah, they are a bit messy, but get the larger ones. They are easier to pick up and there is no chance your daughter will lunch on them. Another favorite are playskool sets with all the characters. It will stir her imagination.

I don't know if you let her use the computer, but last summer when my grandsons came to visit, I taught the 4 yr old how to use the computer and bought him some games. He liked it so much that he actually played for over 3 hours by himself, and then announced to us he would like to stop for a bit, but could he play again later.

Enjoy her. She won't stay young forever.

Answer 4

How about a doll house? Or when I was that age, I played "school". It only takes some paper and pencils, though a small chalkboard would complete the effect, and she can use her stuffed animals or dolls for "students". Or play with her and be her student. Four-year-olds usually are looking forward to starting school, so playing at home can only help. When I was 4, I also had a ton of My Little Ponies. I combed and styled their manes and tails for hours.

Answer 5

give her some paper and markers and let her make a project, or cook with her. I let my kids watch tv for an hour in the morning (when they first wake up) and then an hour at night (right before bed) otherwise they play or find something to do. It helps their imagination.

Answer 6

my 4 year old loves to go outside all of the time and play on the swings, dig in the dirt, play in her wading pool, take walks.......she also loves to help me in the kitchen. like if i am making mac n cheese i let her pour the ingredients in the pot. i know you mentioned staying away from the computer but i do let my daughter get on sesamestreet.org sometimes and they have good educational games. give her some easy responsibilities, my daughter helps set the table for lunch and dinner and feeds our dogs every day. she feels good that she is helping out in our house. hope this helps! good luck....

Answer 7

anything that is not TV or Computer right?

There is coloring and drawing...you can draw a picture and let her color, or color with her.....you can get those cute coloring books and color in together.....

READING is good....make funny voices when you read....she'll love it!

Sing songs with her....nursery rhymes and cute little girls songs that she will love...do the actions with her and she'll imitate you...it'll be so cute....

play adventure games like climbing mountains or bury something like coins and chocolate and candy in a bag and play treasure hunt with a treasure map....

pretend to camp with a bedsheet as a tent....tell stories...pretend to roast marshmellows and go on hikes, stuff like that....pretend that you see certain animals and she'll go on with it.....

how about pretend to fish?? i love doing this one with little kids....at first you reel in and then you pretend that you caught something weird....then she'll do it and tell you a weird thing that she caught....it'll be a lovely memory

switch on the music and start dancing together!

i hope this helps!

Answer 8

at that age it can be hard but i found mixing water with flour so he could make funny pastry shapes a great help then put food colouring in each shape to see the patterns that turned out.....

Answer 9

Arts and crafts, dolls, age appropriate computer software and websites, cook or bake with her.

Answer 10

cutting,pasting, and anything housekeeping (pretend play), playdough also has some great sets out.