I am keeping my neice overnight for the first time since she was a baby and I am sweating it for some reason!!!! It has been a while since I have kept one that age over night and I am so nervous. I cant explain it !!! I am concerned about keeping her amused and entertained for that time !! She stays awake at night a lot because her mom works third shift so her sleeping habits are weird anyways and I think that that is what I am so concerned about!! I will have my husband here for support but I guess I am just looking for ideas or things to do with her!!! I really dont have any more kids toys because my daughter is 12 so she is a little far from baby dolls etc. Any advice!!??S.
It looks like others have given you good advice about fun activities you could do together. I just want to encourage you by saying that if you just spend time with her and include her in what you are doing... she will have enjoyed her time with you. Even if you hear comments like.. "that's not how we do it" or "This is boring" etc... She will remember her aunt that loves her and is alot of fun. Make good memories!
Try baking cookies together (or anything else - cupcakes, etc).
Play-doh - - you can even make your own with stuff you probably already have on hand.
Will she be there daytime hours? If you're in Indy, there is a train display and christmas lights at the Zoo - I think hours are noon-9PM.
Have fun!
My daughter is 5 now but when she was 2 and 3 years old I could put in a movie and give her a few toys, she would sit through the movie and be prefectly content. If you don't have any good kids movies just go to the library and check out a few. I suggest taking her with you and letting her pick them out. Even at 3 she'll let you know what she likes and doesn't like. As for toys plastic and metal dishes, pots, and pans make for great stacking and banging toys. Good luck with bed time, third shift can be hard to change for any age.
You could finger paint, buy a tub of plain yogurt and add food coloring, its safe in case she eats it and its easy to clean... my son is 5 and loves it he also loves to help make cookies and if he gets to stir it he is so excited. depending on the whether you could play outside games, my family is big on games..... ask her what she would like to do, if she would sit still long enough take her to see Flushed away it is a very cute movie and kept my son occupied. Good luck
First of all make sure that she brings some of her favorite toys, her favorite blanket and/or lovey. Second...it's really not so hard to amuse a 3 year old. Play beauty shop with her (let her do your hair how she likes), draw pictures, have a little dance party, rent some videos...3 year olds seem to like things like dragon tales, dora the explorer, the wiggles...some video places rent the kids videos free. You might want to bake some oatmeal cookies...put the ingredients in the bowl and let her mix it up with her hands. I hope some of these ideas work for you.
Coloring, baking, telling stories, watching movies... if you have cable and the sprout channel (ours is 295) The goodnight show is a great one. They also love dress up, ring around the rosie, rymes, riddles, easy things. Build a hunt with covers and the furniture... everyone loves make-believe. Family video rents three kids movies a night for free. You could also take her to the light display downtown.
