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We are going to Thanksgiving dinner at our friends house. They have 4 children (3 will be at their Dad's house)... leaving their 3 year old son to spend the evening with. We have a 16 yr old son (who will be eating dinner with us and then going to have dinner with his girlfriends family) and a 12 yr old daughter (who wants to take her DS to play with after dinner when the adults are chatting - I'm ok with this idea, except I worry that the high strung 3 yr old may get ahold of it and break it).
What I would like from the creative folks here on CD is some ideas of things I can take with - something like a goodie box or bag just for him that will hold his attention and keep him occupied for a bit. When I have gone over there to visit - he has been very high needs. He demands attention from whoever is at the house and does many naughty things to get whatever kind of attention he can.
I don't need discipline advice or to hear that his mother isn't spending enough time with him, etc... what I really want is some creative ideas of inexpensive goodies I can put in a special box or bag to give him after dinner that will keep him entertained for a bit.
Thanks so much in advance. Both our families are here alone and this is her first without all her kids at home - I would really like to make this successful and enjoyable for everyone and not be stressed out by an attention seeking 3 yr old...
Get a box fill it with a smaller box and so forth, make sure to seal each box with a couple rounds of tape, strong tape might I add, do fill the smallest box with candy so it's not a total disappointment. Tell him that inside is candy and he has to get to the very inside box, it'll take him the whole time you are there to get to the middle.
I wouldn't go heavy on the candy, maybe one lollipop at most. I never met a three year old boy who wasn't entranced with Matchbox cars and trucks. They are small, inexpensive, and portable. You can frequently find vinyl mats sold in the same area that have streets and such printed on them. I've seen them at the dollar stores.
Maybe animal crackers and/or those gummy candies that are sugar-free. I don't know if a coloring book and crayons would be good or not. I certainly wouldn't want him coloring anything else but the book. If he were outside I would think bubbles. Maybe some of those thicker cardboard books made for small children.
Go to the thrift store and buy some dress-up. Kids love uniforms, crazy hats, my kids always manage to find kimonos, all kinds of cool things. After Halloween is a good time for that, also places like Target sell their dress-up marked way down for the next few days, you could pick up something fun for next to nothing.
Pay your daughter something to watch the little guy...you don't have to tell your friend that you're doing that, just get her motivated to play with him and keep him entertained after the meal.
First, realize that a 3 yr old who is high needs typically has a very short attention span. Taking one item will probably not keep their interest for long.
What I would suggest is first find out what he is currently interested in.....Cars? Dinosaurs? Super heroes? Books? Markers?
Then put together a bag/box of several things in that theme that he can take turns playing with, however make them things that are YOURS that you brought to share, not for him to keep and keep the bag/box with you so that he has to return what he had to get something different. This makes it more special and will help him take better care of it. At the end of the evening you can choose whether to leave it for him since he was enjoying it so much and behaved so well....or take it with you for the next time you are there.
In the bag/box include something like a book or two, stickers and paper, color wonder markers/paper(these only color on the special paper), a small play set that has just a few pieces, stuffed animal, a puzzle or small lego type set. You may already have some of these things or other things around your house that your kids no longer play with, so think about what's there.......an older Leap Pad or Gameboy? Toys this young child has not seen before but might like can be a big hit. If you have any toys still from kids meals at fast food places, little kids love those as well.
The idea is to have things he doesn't already have at his house and will be fresh and new to him while at the same time not give him the opportunity to make a huge a mess that will stress out his parents.
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