How can I keep a 4 year old busy?

Question

My 4 year old has way more energy than I can handle in 1 day. She is out of school now and the toys are not enough. I need some activities that can keep her busy for a really long time.

Answer 1

Kids today are growing up in an accellerated environment, critics call "the fast lane." From computing to comuting to communicating, everything is turned on and connected and previous generations are often not trained to that level.

The common response to this dialemma is to let kids have their superpowerful electronics, sit an the computer or TV for hours, and everyone's happy. It doesn't work that way.

I grew up in that sort of environment. My parents treated me that way, and I spent the majority of my childhood and teenage years alone with the boxes. I fel like I understood them and they understood me, and human beings were too damn complicated, unpredictable and malicious. I was also obese, loved fast food, started drinking alcohol heavily, smoked cigarettes, dropped out of school, parents divorced, and I stayed unemployed for years.

I now have my life on track, but ONLY because I realised what I was doing to myself and chose differently. Not even 1 of the failures in my past continues to exist. For most of my generation that is not true. If you won, you kept on winning; if you lost, your probably dead by now.

Technological saturation may be the easy way out for parents, but it's the hardest road a kid can possibly be led down.

It seems the only other alternative is competitive sports, where kids are bashed and beaten, come home covered in mud, blood and who knows what else, angry and ashamed about losing their game, and the parents wonder why they're spending so much on an activity their kid obviously hates, or loves to hate, or hates to love.

At the age of four, you kid has this choice to make, you have this choice to make for your kid, and I bet you don't like the sound of either. It's like people say about politics: which is the lesser of 2 evils?

It doesn't have to be that way. You can have your cake and eat it to, except it's a far more expensive option.

The key words are "balance", agreement" and "cooperation".

Balance: In this digital age, a person is damn near unable to exist without basic knowledge of the operation of electronics. But if a person immerses themself in mental digitalis, they are wasting the potential of the physical, and a person get's larger. If you teach your child to incorporate both in her life, and to keep those scales balanced, it will help both of you immensely.

Agreement: You must learn to nurture the natural talents and tendancies of your child's abilities. These abilities will become her greatest assets in later life, but she will only develop them if she knows she has your support. This means financial as well as saying "I support you."

Cooperation: Competitive sports teach kids to fight. While this may be good business for the defence forces of your country, it's not good for the psyche of your child to grow up feeling hateful, angry, frustrated, depressed, embarressed, or any of the other emotions that both winning and losing can foster.

To cooperate with others on a joint project that everyone benefits from is possibly the most vital lesson every child must be taught and regularly reminded of. However many schools have their priorities mixed up.

The things our kids are taught today will develop into beliefs our kids will live by when we are dead and gone. If we teach competition, they will play wargames, if we teach cooperation they will become the Mother Theresa's, Gandhi's and Martin Luthor King's of the new world.

So here's my question to you ...
Are you going to place your child infront of a TV, send her to play hide and seek or chasey with friends, or take the third option? it is at this fragile age where your decision makes the most impact!

So what are some third options?
Firstly, given that it's about sharing, there should be other 4 year olds around her most of the time. sleep overs, camping and overnight functions are excellent atmospheres for your kids. When I was young I was almost never refused the chance to sleep over at a friends house, and if the balance of being over there was similar to having friends over my place, I was almost never refused that either. At age 4, parents may need to suggest sleep overs to kids more often then they do to keep them interested in knowing other people, but make it clear that your not trying to get rid of them.

Secondly, it is best to keep them productive and creative. Art, cooking, studying, music, puzzles, reading, writing, travelling (cycling, pony riding, walking, exploring, sightseeing), playing with pets and other animals, and most of all talking are all great suggestions for activities for a 4 year old. Some may need parental supervision, but it doesn't have to be you (cooperate and take turns with other parents, or pay professionals to take the responsibility). Other excellent people your child can be left with for long periods safely are family, especially grand parents. They will more often than not jump at the opportunity to spend a few days with the young one, knowing they are also giving you a break and the child a change in environment. Again, everyone wins.

Lastly, kids will more often than not mirror and copy their parents actions, so if they see you alone a lot, or just you and your partner, they will deduce there is something undesirable about being in the company of others. If you are dead tired after work, explain it to them so they know your not just brushing your friends off, and make being "dead tired" a rare occurance, because they will want your attention too, and you are more likely to give them and yourself an instant meal like fast food, which teaches them "do as I say, not as I do." A hipocritical phrase I find deplorable and far too commonplace. "Eat proper, nutritional food all the time. Now here's your happy meal."

If you are going to sit them infront of a box, play something educational, relative to their age. Documentaries, such as nature documentaries, as excellent stimulus for learning about status and authority, which is important for a child. It is equally important to give some explanation for the orders you give, so they understand the first few times, and then whenever they hear that order they will be able deduce why the order was given.

It is natural instinct for a young child to love their parents unconditionally, but as they grow up that love can become very conditional, and if parents don't comply they can learn to hate. Other kids grow up to develop very few conditions on their love for their parents, but very, very few grow up with no conditions at all. How do you want your kid to think of you in 30 years?? Are you really "Just doing the best you can"?

Answer 2

Tell her to stop cleaning her room and start playing with her "V-Smile" as how the commercial goes.

I bought V-Smile for my 4 & a half year old daughter, a few days after Christmas. It has come down a little in cost !! In fact, V-Smile Now has a smaller hand-held version which hooks to a T.V. and that she can take with her whenever you go to the store, or on vacations.
It is fun for her, AND very educational. The
small cartridges range are $14.95 and educate the child from 5 to 8 yrs. of age. This is absolutely the best investment I have made for my daughter. It keeps her busy for hours.
And my son received a V-Flash for his birthday and Christmas, combination gift from grandma.
V-Flash is for kids 8 yrs. old through 12 yrs. old.
And my son just turned 9 on Dec. 20.
We do not have regular games for the kids. They play a couple of games on the computer for free, after they finish homework, and a few chores.
The V-Smile and also the V-Flash pays for itself within a few weeks. Honestly it is worth the investment. It educates the kids, keeps them very busy, and we, adults can get things done around the house, or as I do with my 2nd job, which is at home - use the computer in
Real Estate.

No. I do not work for the V-Tech corp. simply think the V-Smile and V-Flash is a good investment for any parent.

Educational T.V. such as Dora, Deigo, Blue's Clues, Seseme St. and Between the Lions(especially) are excellent ways she can spend her time as well.

Many children do enjoy the interaction with an adult or other children, and need this time as well, so they do not feel neglected.

You are a Good Parent. And I am sure you will
discover many other good strategies along the way.

The book Karma Kids is Excellent, providing many excellent suggestions for parents and children to occupy their time constructively and wholesomely. It is quick reading and is very inexpensive.

And you will receive many other Excellent suggestions from other people in the wonderful world of "Yahoo-Land."

Have a Peaceful, Wonderful 2007' and please always remember that our children are our best teachers. It is through them that we learn to cultivate Patience, Wisdom, and also
Good-Will toward all People. Children are such a blessing to us.

I am so blessed to have my children. And I enjoy the productive time I spend with them.
Our jids will always cherish the time we spent with them as children.
And when our children become adults, they will recall all the many productive, meaningful hours we spent with them as children and teenagers, and will always greatly appreciate it, and will respect us for it.

Answer 3

Four year olds like to keep busy. They need activities to stimulate their minds and bodies.

Kids this age enjoy visits to hands-on museums and aquariums. Hikes for short distances, tossing a Frisbee, and playing ball are activities that are good exercise for parent and child. Also, this is good bonding time.

Art projects like modeling clay, building things with Lego's or Timber Logs, etc. keep the mind and hands busy. Painting is great but usually messy. So throw a dollar plastic tablecloth on the floor and on the table to make clean up easier. Puzzles work on motor skills. Four year old kids are old enough to help you cook, and they enjoy the interaction.

Interactive activities like karate, dance class, indoor sports like soccer, swimming and gymnastics in winter (YMCA), and music classes engage the child and teach her a skill. They are good for balance and coordination.

Answer 4

Try the zoo,movies,a park with other kids,simple games like roll a ball back and forth,hide and seek,read stories,take her visit old people at ANY nursing home- they will be over joyed!

Try getting a book on it -I'm sure there are book full of things to keep her busy
Good Luck!

Answer 5

Maybe if you take her to a gym class so she can use up her energy or take her to the park. Outside activities would probably be the best. if you want inside activities then big puzzles or if she likes are an easel/chalk board/ whit board so she can do that. Some places sell big "boxes of lots of activities, that might work. hope this helps!

Answer 6

Here are my ideas my son is about to be four and hes also out of school on break.....

*Side walk chalk
*I give him a dry earse maker and let him write on the tile in the kitchen. (it actually is fun and so easy to remove)
*V-Smile (the little video game they have dora and all that)
*Puzzels
*Leap Frog Learning Pad (My son is 3 years 10 months and can read a little)
*Legos the big kind (its a pain in the A** stepping on the small ones)
*COOKING- i use this one and it keeps em busy for about two hours what you do it .........
BUY STORE BOUGHT SUGAR COOKIE DOUGH GIVE EM A ROLLING PEN AND SOME CUTTER (plastic of course) AND THEN WILL ROLL AND CUT AND RE-ROLL AND RE-CUTT FOR HOURS YOU DONT EVEN HAVE TO COOK IT BUT IF YOU WANT GO AHEAD AND THEN LET EM EAT IT (Hey thats another ten minutes)

Answer 7

My Grandmother used to dip my fingers in honey and give me a feather to play with.

Seriously, the more active she is outside, the tireder she will be when she comes inside. Parks and playgrounds wear my grand kids out and when I get them home it is nap time.

I do believe Yahoo just let me coin a word. Is "tireder" actually a word???

Answer 8

Do things with her. Take her to the park, fingerpaint together, make a puppet show with sock puppets, give her a silly bubble bath and make her look like Santa, write a story with her and let her do the illustrations.

She's probably bored with her toys and wants to spend time with YOU.

Answer 9

you should definitely give her some kind of coloring book- those things can keep anyone busy for hours if you have good materials. I get fine tip markers and some design books- i still have some! maybe shell be an artist

Answer 10

Colouring books,
Painting,
clay.
Things to do with the hands while sitting still or standing. Get her an easel, some art supplies, and watch her go.
Tonight, some paper and some pens/markers/whatever will do.

Answer 11

buy them a video game system thats educationa and fun like anything by leapfrog theres alot of fun and educational games so their little minds dont decay in fantasy but instead learn,be occupied,and have fun at the same time!