what fun educational toys are there for a 3.5 year old.?

ashleyhadd

Ive been thinking about getting her the leapfrog clickstart computer toy, and ive thought about it a lot since its so expensive (50 bucks), she likes her dads comp and plays the little ball game and such on it, and shes seen the clickstart comp and has asked for it for christmas, but ive been looking at it and i keep seeing pics of kids playing with it with a blank look on their faces! you know like the stoned look! anyways im trying to think of other things to get her that may be better but that can help her learn and stuff, we do little things here and there but i need to find something that she can learn with thats mainly kid propelled, meaning she can activate it and work it and she actually learns but thats minimal parent involvement, she has been fighting help on everything ands wants to do it all herself, i mean she knows how to fix her own cerial and start her own music and even get dressed and she learned all this in the past few months by not letting anyone help, so if thats how she wants to then thats fine.....
lol well i put that because believe it or not, there is a HUGE diff in the development of a Just turned 3 year old and that of a 3 in a half year old, as well as a 4 year old......

Answer
Fisher Price Snap N Style dolls are great. My daughter loves them and she's about the same age.

Anything 'Little People' too. She likes to line the people up and have them all talk to one another.

Building blocks. We have the Imaginarium set from Toys R Us. She can build things for hours.

A doll house filled with furniture and people.

Dress-up and pretend clothes

Puzzles no more than 30 pieces.

My mom always bringing the kids toys...innocent habit or bad precedent?

Mom to Lea

My folks live a little over an hour away and come to see my kids who are 3.5 and 10 months about twice a month. My kids are crazy about them, especially my 3.5 year old son. My mom loves shopping Goodwill, garage sales, etc. and is always bringing some little trinket or toy. So now when she comes through the door, he is checking her bag to see what she brought him. Let me add he is a really sweet kid and never throws a fit demanding stuff (well at least not yet, knock on wood). But I still wonder if its setting a bad example that he expects something, or if its just fun for him and Nana and to leave it alone?
Chase's mom-my mom was the one who announced she would bring a toy everytime, even though I told her he loves her for her and she doesn't need to. I have told him she doesn't have to bring him a toy. And he does love playing with my folks, he is all over them when they are here, its not like give me a toy and go away. But he does get excited to see what she's brought him. Its usually something like a little matchbox car she got for a quarter.

Answer
I do the same thing with my grandson.....he has a toy box at my house, and I periodically add a new toy so there is usually something new for him to see when he visits.

And when I visit I usually have something I picked up for him, but I do not give it to him as soon as I walk through the door. I visit for a while first, and then give him my gift.

Maybe you could just have your son wait for a while, so his focus is on your mom, rather than what she brought.

It's hard to resist when you have grand kids, you are out shopping, and see something cute that you know the child would like. :o)

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My mom always bringing the kids toys...innocent habit or bad precedent?

Mom to Lea

My folks live a little over an hour away and come to see my kids who are 3.5 and 10 months about twice a month. My kids are crazy about them, especially my 3.5 year old son. My mom loves shopping Goodwill, garage sales, etc. and is always bringing some little trinket or toy. So now when she comes through the door, he is checking her bag to see what she brought him. Let me add he is a really sweet kid and never throws a fit demanding stuff (well at least not yet, knock on wood). But I still wonder if its setting a bad example that he expects something, or if its just fun for him and Nana and to leave it alone?
Chase's mom-my mom was the one who announced she would bring a toy everytime, even though I told her he loves her for her and she doesn't need to. I have told him she doesn't have to bring him a toy. And he does love playing with my folks, he is all over them when they are here, its not like give me a toy and go away. But he does get excited to see what she's brought him. Its usually something like a little matchbox car she got for a quarter.

Answer
I do the same thing with my grandson.....he has a toy box at my house, and I periodically add a new toy so there is usually something new for him to see when he visits.

And when I visit I usually have something I picked up for him, but I do not give it to him as soon as I walk through the door. I visit for a while first, and then give him my gift.

Maybe you could just have your son wait for a while, so his focus is on your mom, rather than what she brought.

It's hard to resist when you have grand kids, you are out shopping, and see something cute that you know the child would like. :o)

3.5 year old resitant to toilet training?

Leah S

My 3.5 year old is a very stubborn, independant, obsessive child, who absolutely refuses to be toilet trained. He does not want to sit on the potty, even with clothes on, and with every bribe in the book. I try not to let him know that i am frustrated, but the school year is coming up soon, and they don't take kids who are still in diapers. I think he feels safe in his diapers - and I know that he really hates change. Any ideas?

Answer
Wow at 3.5 he knows what he is doing. It seems as though it is more of a power struggle than anything else. He knows that he has the upper hand in this but that needs to change. Take him to the dr and rule out any med issues. If he is healthy it's time to get tough mom. Tell him that he needs to start using the potty. Do not ask him. Stand firm. If he wants to do big boy things ( go outside and play, attend b-day parties, have big boy toys, watch t.v. etc) then he needs to be a big boy and go potty. If he refuses don't give him an ultimatum! Just tell him "Mommy is sorry! I thought that you were ready to be a big boy. If you're not ready than that's okay." Don't freak out. It's a set-up! Take away his big boy toys and give him back his baby toys. Don't let him have juice, candy, or big boy snacks instead give him milk or water only to drink and boring foods. Absolutely no Mc Donalds! Take him to the store and make him sit in the cart, no walking at all. Walk down the big boy toy aisle "by mistake" and when he says "oooh mom! I want that!" Just smile and say "Oh no sweetie, that's a big boy toy" then take him down the baby isle and pick up something like a soft rattle and offer to get that instead. The key is not to sound angry or tell him that he is being punished. You want him to get the message that big boys go potty and babies use pampers. Let him know that at anytime if he decides to be a big boy you will treat him as such but until then he will be taken care of and treated as a little boy and not a big one. He will get the point VERY QUICLKY! Just be consistant and DO NOT give in. He'll be potty trained before the week is out!

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How do i make my kids behave?

best toys for kids 3-5 image

I have 4 kids ages 9,3,5,6. It seems I have to chase them screaming and yelling all day just so things don't get broke or kids getting hurt. They don't listen to anything they are literally climbing walls and hurting each other they wont even play with their toys much they just grab things they know they can't have and brake them

Answer
1ST OF ALL YOU ARE GREAt. i have 3 1/2 year old twins and its hard. god bless you. be firm, say no on things, dont give in on things they want to make them quiet. my kids are testing me so im trying now before they get bigger and its hard. reward them if they good. take things away, give them warnings that they wont get a snack or whatever treats they get if they dont listen. time out or send them to there room. if there certain hours that they act up, start giving them minor chores to pre occuppy their time. maybe if your kids start seeing one is getting reward for good behavior that other sibblings will follow. good luck, being a mother is the hardest job

what age should you make kids start picking after themselves?

Q. When my husband's 4 yo daughter comes to visit (about once a month for 3-5 days, will be much longer this summer), the house ends up looking like a tornado hit. We have just been letting it go for a few days during her visit and cleaning everything after she leaves. What age is appropriate to make the kids start cleaning up their own toys? I'm starting to get a little concerned that if we continue to do this for her too long, that it will be too hard to change later on & lead to her taking advantage on other things as she gets older. Also, I don't want to live in a warzone of a house for a month this summer. I know kids are messy, etc but when/how do we teach them to start doing these sorts of things for themselves? I have no kids of my own & I'm still trying to find my place in all this (I'm sure other step parents will understand...) Other than DH's kids, I haven't been around kids much so I'm still very unsure of what I'm doing or should be doing

Answer
NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT!!! I would start that 4-year-old on cleaning up NOW. Make a deal that she can only have 1 thing out at a time and when she's done with that and wants to play with something else she puts the 1st thing away and THEN gets something else out. Sometimes that won't work, though. Seriously what 4 year old only plays with one thing at a time, right? Maybe let it go all morning and then before lunch have her pick up her stuff. Help her. Do it together. This way she won't feel like you are a mean person and it's hard for a little person to clean up all that stuff...it's much easier to get it out than it is to put it away, right? You can make a race out of it or you can help her put it away by making suggestions on what should be put away next. When it's all put away tell her what a good job she's done and maybe have her help you make lunch. Lots of positive reinforcement...make her feel like a big girl :)

After lunch let it go again and then before dinner (or maybe before daddy gets home from work) help her pick up again and again praise her for a good job. Don't do it all for her, make her help, but be there to keep her focused.

You are smart to ask this question, and you are correct in that if you don't start now it will be much harder later on.

Good luck.

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How do you get a 3-year old to stay in bed and go to sleep at night?

best toys for kids 3-5 image

Klaus

Our daughter is 3.5 years old. We put her to bed at night around 8, we read for her and sing lullabies. However, she rarely really sleeps before 10-ish and she will get out of bed anywhere from 3 to 15 times and run to us in the living room. Sometimes, she will just turn on the light in her room and sit on the floor playing. We have tried threats, time-outs, taking away toys, denying her candy in the weekend........everything that we can think of. It's driving us nuts that we don't have anytime by ourselves during the evening and it is bad for her in the long run to get too little sleep. Who has experience with this situation? What can we do to make her stay in bed and go to sleep?

Answer
I JUST discovered the answer to this like 3 nights ago! With my 4.5 y/o daughter and my 3 y/o son!

Put them in bed, sing a song, have some nice time together, talking...but make it no longer than 10 minutes and keep it calm and soothing. Then, give kisses and hugs and tell her in no uncertain terms that she MUST stay in bed, not play, not talk, not get up. If she does she will get a spanking (or your choice of disapline). I also tell my kids that I don't WANT to spank them, I want them to be good cause I don't like to spank them. But I WILL if I have to.

Then DO THAT! If she gets up, disapline her, and put her back in bed...telling her it again.

Be consistant! Everytime she gets up, disapline her and put her back in bed. You might have to stand outside her door (quietly) so that you can catch her out of bed and playing.

Take turns-mom and dad-with this. One goes one time, the next time it's the other...this way neither of you gets overly angry with the child. :)

It's worked WONDERS for me! It's been 3 nights now with kids staying in their beds and going to sleep!

What is the best way of giving a gift to an 1 year boy (for about $1000 )?

johnpau200

I have my nephew's birthday coming next month and I wanted to give him a gift for around $1000. I don't want to buy toys or something which will not help him.

Is there a CD or some gift cash certificates which I can buy from some banks or post office for about $1000 and which would fetch him some good return after 1-3-5 years ?

Please advise

Answer
what are you crazy? $1000? the kid doesnt know the value of it... also if you put it in something for 5 years you will MAX get back $1250 return on 5 years... its stupid. get the kid a toy his 1 year old..

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what age should you make kids start picking after themselves?

best toys for kids 3-5 image

Q. When my husband's 4 yo daughter comes to visit (about once a month for 3-5 days, will be much longer this summer), the house ends up looking like a tornado hit. We have just been letting it go for a few days during her visit and cleaning everything after she leaves. What age is appropriate to make the kids start cleaning up their own toys? I'm starting to get a little concerned that if we continue to do this for her too long, that it will be too hard to change later on & lead to her taking advantage on other things as she gets older. Also, I don't want to live in a warzone of a house for a month this summer. I know kids are messy, etc but when/how do we teach them to start doing these sorts of things for themselves? I have no kids of my own & I'm still trying to find my place in all this (I'm sure other step parents will understand...) Other than DH's kids, I haven't been around kids much so I'm still very unsure of what I'm doing or should be doing

Answer
NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT!!! I would start that 4-year-old on cleaning up NOW. Make a deal that she can only have 1 thing out at a time and when she's done with that and wants to play with something else she puts the 1st thing away and THEN gets something else out. Sometimes that won't work, though. Seriously what 4 year old only plays with one thing at a time, right? Maybe let it go all morning and then before lunch have her pick up her stuff. Help her. Do it together. This way she won't feel like you are a mean person and it's hard for a little person to clean up all that stuff...it's much easier to get it out than it is to put it away, right? You can make a race out of it or you can help her put it away by making suggestions on what should be put away next. When it's all put away tell her what a good job she's done and maybe have her help you make lunch. Lots of positive reinforcement...make her feel like a big girl :)

After lunch let it go again and then before dinner (or maybe before daddy gets home from work) help her pick up again and again praise her for a good job. Don't do it all for her, make her help, but be there to keep her focused.

You are smart to ask this question, and you are correct in that if you don't start now it will be much harder later on.

Good luck.

What was the best invention for kids that made one crazy inventor and investor a millionare?

Q. Remember those animal rubber bands? The guy probably is at home in retirement on his pool,exercising,young, and living the dream life selling those animal rubber bands. I'm doing a project for Economics about the best product made for children because kids are particulary suckers somewhere at age 3-5 years old.

That woman who made a book for kids who are in stress I know its kinda funny but she made millions of dollars probably at home same as that animal rubber band guy. LOL

Answer
It has to be LEGO. A small Danish toy company with only seven or eight employees bought a plastic injection moulding machine and invented a 'self binding brick'. In less than twenty years, by the 1960s, the company was worth millions. No other invention: doll, clay, game, construction set or gadget, comes close to it.

Kids love it: they buy a few bricks and play for weeks on end. They start at 4 or 5 years old, and are still playing and collecting at 12.

There are compatible bricks, (such as Canadian Mega Bloks) but parents prefer the original brand, so it still sells like hot cakes. LEGO fans always seem to need the latest set.

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How do i make my kids behave?

best toys for kids 3-5 image

Corey

I have 4 kids ages 9,3,5,6. It seems I have to chase them screaming and yelling all day just so things don't get broke or kids getting hurt. They don't listen to anything they are literally climbing walls and hurting each other they wont even play with their toys much they just grab things they know they can't have and brake them

Answer
1ST OF ALL YOU ARE GREAt. i have 3 1/2 year old twins and its hard. god bless you. be firm, say no on things, dont give in on things they want to make them quiet. my kids are testing me so im trying now before they get bigger and its hard. reward them if they good. take things away, give them warnings that they wont get a snack or whatever treats they get if they dont listen. time out or send them to there room. if there certain hours that they act up, start giving them minor chores to pre occuppy their time. maybe if your kids start seeing one is getting reward for good behavior that other sibblings will follow. good luck, being a mother is the hardest job

I have to make a wooden toy with wheels for homework?

Alexia M

I have to make a wooden toy with wheels for homework aimed for kids age 3-5. I am aiming mostly at girls, and it cant be too complicated. It cant have any sharp edges are small bits that could easily snap off. So far, I have come up with a duck, a turtle or an owl? Any ideas? It doesnt have to be an animal

Answer
Kitty cat ;)))

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How do i make my kids behave?

best toys for kids 3-5 image

Corey

I have 4 kids ages 9,3,5,6. It seems I have to chase them screaming and yelling all day just so things don't get broke or kids getting hurt. They don't listen to anything they are literally climbing walls and hurting each other they wont even play with their toys much they just grab things they know they can't have and brake them

Answer
1ST OF ALL YOU ARE GREAt. i have 3 1/2 year old twins and its hard. god bless you. be firm, say no on things, dont give in on things they want to make them quiet. my kids are testing me so im trying now before they get bigger and its hard. reward them if they good. take things away, give them warnings that they wont get a snack or whatever treats they get if they dont listen. time out or send them to there room. if there certain hours that they act up, start giving them minor chores to pre occuppy their time. maybe if your kids start seeing one is getting reward for good behavior that other sibblings will follow. good luck, being a mother is the hardest job

I have to make a wooden toy with wheels for homework?

Alexia M

I have to make a wooden toy with wheels for homework aimed for kids age 3-5. I am aiming mostly at girls, and it cant be too complicated. It cant have any sharp edges are small bits that could easily snap off. So far, I have come up with a duck, a turtle or an owl? Any ideas? It doesnt have to be an animal

Answer
Kitty cat ;)))

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