What can I do?

Question

I do art with my 3 year old while my son is at school, we read books, we take a walk but then that's about it besides her nap and lunch, what else could we do?

I don't like going out alone because I have been raped and it's scary to be alone anymore.

Help would be greatly appreciated, and any rude remarks will be ignored and reported. Thanks

Answer 1

How very traumatic to have been raped - I can't even imagine how difficult it must be for you to deal with. I hope you are able to have a good support system to help you get through. Perhaps there are friends or relatives with children around your daughter's age who you can go with to the park or your library's story time. If this isn't an option, there are lots of things 3 year olds like to do. I have been a mom for 28 years to 4 kids. My first 2 years of mother-hood I worked and went to school. Then I was a stay-at-home mom for 6 years before doing child care in my home, which I have been doing for 20 years. I've had at least one 3 year old around for a lot of years. Three year olds are at an age when many like to do some independent playing, so don't feel as though you have to entertain her all the time. Perhaps you can invite a friend over for a play-date once in awhile. You can enlist her help in house-hold chores. She can help fold washcloths and learn to pair socks. She can use the dust cloth to dust the coffee table. Many children this age love playing in the water. Let her "help" wash dishes (a chair at the sink while wearing a dishtowel tied around the waist and some wooden spoons, plastic bowls and cups has provided hours of entertainment). Or put her in her swim suit inside the bathtub with a dishpan full of water and lot of cups, spoons, and water toys. Three year olds are big into imitation and make-believe play is popular. Give her some of your old clothing, shoes, purses (or I buy really frilly, over-the-top, outrageous outfits at the thrift shop for my dress-up box). Play food and dishes not only lend themselves to playing house, but also playing store, restaurant, and tea party. All my 3 year olds love the large supply of wooden blocks I have. They build towers, roads, cities, farms, houses, a stove for the play food and a table to eat it at. There are several suitable websites geared for perschoolers that you can do with her. Try typing in a search query like "preschool websites" in your favorite search engine. Let her help you plan menus and cook. If something needs fixing let her help pound a nail or screw in a screw. Puzzles are very popular at this age. If you don't have any store bought ones, you can take a picture from a magazine or an old calendar and glue it to a piece of cardboard (empty cereal boxes work well). Then cut the picture in to shapes for her to put together. Make some books. You can glue pictures from magazines or pictures printed from the internet on cardstock or index cards. Make up a story to go along with the pictures or let her draw some pictures to go along with a story. Let her dictate the story and you write it just as she says it. Be sure to date it - they are darling keepsakes. Punch a hole in the top of each page and hold together with a binder ring or a piece of yarn. Play outside in the sandbox, kick around a soccer or a playground ball, play catch with a baseball. Have her run a relay. Give her some tasks (run around the pine tree 3 times, jump to the swing, and walk slowly to the car), this helps her practice following directions. She is at an age when she is learning tons about the world around her. On your walks, show her plants and bugs, let her show you those things, too. When you read books, talk about the story, ask her questions about it ("what is the boy's name?", "where is the family going?", "how many monkeys are there?"). Since you have a son already in school, you know how fast kids grow up. Make a scrap book with pictures and journaling. When the time flies by and she's in school before you know it, you can remininsce about those preschool days plus it'll be something embarrassing to put on display at her high school graduation party!

Answer 2

Well for starts it seems you do more than I can manage to do with 3 yr old. I would suggest finding a moms group so that you can go out on group outings, safety in numbers.

I understand you are scared but maybe you just need to get your confidence back. You have survived a very violent act, keyword survived. Don't let it define or constrict your life. I have listed the website for the International Moms Club, they have groups all over the world and may have several in your area. You find the one closest to you and contact the rep for that group and they will email you the calander. Go to some of the events and get to know the other mom. I just moved to a new state and didn't know anyone, the group has help me make friends and gets me out of the house.

Good luck.

Answer 3

well when you take your son to school are their any other mum`s in the same situation as you with one child at home ?kids like messy things ,like making cakes , doing the dishes with lot`s of bubbles , and cutting shapes out using clay. and the best thing ever Lego. and you can get some left over wall paper , use the back put it over the door or kitchen floor and play hand and feet paint prints. and any think go`s oh wot a mess ha ha and don`t forget the dressing up princess out fits music and dance, now is the time for xmas song`s its so much fun just watching kid`s are so funny , oh if you have a paddling pool . i don`t know if you have a garden just put bubbles in put har wellies on and let her splash away , have fun . you could play find the sweets to just hide tham, and she will find .

Answer 4

Teach him/her to read (hooked on phonics or other). You can have her reading the newspaper before school starts!

Otherwise, my wife is a fan of Mom n me Yoga or mom n me playtimes. And it might not hurt to do 3 hours of preschool during the day so she won't be horrified to be with other kindergarteners when the time comes. Being home with mom is great, but it does nothing for building social skills with other children.

you should probably get help for your fear of being alone, since your toddler will be in school in a year or two. take some self-defense classes, some kickboxing. you'll be stronger and you can kick some a$s if someone messes with you. no point in letting life pass you by

Answer 5

erm.. you could go shopping, i no that would be really fun especially if it was a toy shop or clothes shop or if its a food shop then asda or exciting places not just like a corner shop.
you could also go swimming or i know you might think this idea is crazy and it will never happen butyou could have another child and they would play together at home. or you could get a pet.
sorry if that was no help but it's all i can think of at the moment.
and sorry for what happened before (you know the rhape and that)

Answer 6

Do kid stuff, play hide and go seek, ring around the rosie little games like that. You could also get one of those V-tech games that you hook up to the tv and the child plays an educational game. They also make things you can hook up to your computer for children to play, as early as 9 months.

Answer 7

I don't want to sound sarcastic-but i think you need professional help. try rape hot line or the head of you religion or even a trusted member of your family or community. I prey for you and your family.

Answer 8

You could see if there are any pre-schoolers in your area and make a few playdates for him, so he gets used to playing with kids.