Bed rest and keeping a three year old busy

[APToddlerMama]

I am on modified bed rest due to some pregnancy complications and I am not even done with the first trimester.  We have a three year old and will be having someone come in to do some childcare/play with him but we need some ideas on how to keep DS busy in the mean time.  Also, I am not enjoying having a stranger in my house so would like to have it be a few hours a day not all day long.  Not to mention the cost...

Anyhow, I need some ideas....  Are there any toys that your three year old (or two year old as he has some developmental delays) absolutely loves that will keep him/her busy for long periods of time with minimal help from mom/dad?  Are there other ways you keep your kiddos busy?  I need things that aren't messy (no water or playdough or art projects!)  but that are still fun and maybe even slightly educational.  I am trying to stay laying on the couch as much as possible so things that I do to interact with DS or have him play solo while still keeping my booty on the couch would be perfect!

Thanks in advance :)

[~Amy~]

If you have an Ipod Touch or an Iphone... my 3 yo LOVES playing games on mine.  Some I've paid a dollar or 2 for, but most are free that we have.  He's gotten really good at the memory/matching games, puzzles, mazes, etc. He'll curl up with me on the couch if I'm nursing the baby, trying to nap, etc and play for quite a while.

[mommariffic]

Oh, I'll second technology! We have an Ipad (which I swore I'd never want) and DD loves to play the preschool memory match games on it -- they have some great free ones, and some beautiful interactive books too. It can keep her busy for awhile -- the same goes for preschool computer type games. 

I know you said no mess, but we used to make sensory bins and 90% of the time the sand stayed IN the bin. One example is our "ocean" which I made using a big rubbermaid bin -- we did several blue sands, some plastic sea creatures, and funnels etc. FUN! 

[APToddlerMama]

We don't have an ipad or ipod touch :(.  DS purposely drenched my computer so I don't know that I'd trust him anyhow, lol!  I guess I must just have a seriously messy kid because I have done beans in the sensory table and that was as wild as I wanted to go even not pregnant.  He does LOVE sand though...

[~Amy~]

What about an outdoor sand table or box and a reclining lawn chair for you? No worries about mess.

[westcoastlady]

I meant to reply earlier by I was on my ipod and it is such a pain to type on.  So, I only have a two-year old... and I don't know how many of these ideas would work for your little guy but these are some of the things I thought of:

-magnets.. either the alphabet kind or you can get sets (at Walmart/toystore) that make scenes.  I use a cookie sheet for them and then they are portable. 

-also at walmart you can get bags of buttons for a couple of bucks.  I separate out the big ones (my guy doesn't put things in his mouth anymore) and he loves to play with them, string them (I have a blunt embroidery needle) or put them into and out of containers. - icecube trays or muffin tins are great for this

-magnadoodle - big hit at this house

-my ds loves containers at this age, purses, bags, anything with a zipper or a lid that flips open.  He loves to put his cars in and out, carry them around.  

-stickers - also very popular here

-now that it's summer, would it be possible to get a lounge chair outside (if you have outdoor space that's fenced/childproofed).  My DS is WAY easier to entertain outside.  

-books with flaps

That's all I can think of right now, except that I really feel for you having to do this with a three-year old.  I can imagine it will be difficult.  Do you have friends who could take him to the park once and a while with their kids just to run off some energy??    I hope this helps.

[APToddlerMama]

Thank you Amy and WestCoastLady!  Lots of good ideas. Stickers and buttons...I hadn't thought of that and that would be something he'd be into for sure.   Unfortunately outside doesn't work out great because I end up having to get up too much to keep him out of the street, etc.  We are definitely working on setting up for someone to come take him out though so he doesn't miss out on summer.

[Vegan Princess]

I was in your DDC. Sorry to hear about the bedrest! I have a 28 month old. I just got her a little people barn (I got it off craigslist for $15). It has tons of animals and pieces and it has entertained her for much of her play time over the last week and a half. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Nothing holds her attention like that. So some kind of set that has lots of things to play make believe with. 

As for sensory bins, try putting a big sheet out underneath - makes cleaning much easier when you can just pick up the sheet and dump it back it. I hate the mess of our bean bin but she can entertain herself for a long time with that. 

I've seen little laptop type toys for toddlers. I forget who makes them. They sell them in Target and they aren't more than $30 or so. I've heard those can be pretty entertaining and they are educational - working on letters, etc. 

My last suggestion is flash cards. I have some with animals on them that DD loves to look through. I also have alphabet cards that she enjoys playing with. Not so much into memorizing letters but still has fun playing with them. 

Cindy

[APToddlerMama]

Thank you Cindy!  I will try some of those!