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JennGM
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My almost 3 yo is an only child right now. He's got lots of energy. We need to go outside more, but lately I physically can't "play" with him. So what's a child to do when he wants to play with a companion?
When we go out, he doesn't do much running around. And he needs to...he needs to burn off a lot of steam, otherwise the springs in my couches are not going to last much longer. 
My brain is dead. I can't think of ways to get him motivated and moving. Tossing a ball, or batting at a ball is one way. We do bubbles, we do gardening, he rides his tricycle...but none of these are very "active."
Any suggestions?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Maddie
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My little guys loved the small exercise trampoline. I get nervous with the large ones, but the small ones (they even make one with a handle for little guys) I can handle as they are just a step away from the ground. My little ones would jump and jump and jump.
The other thing I do to tire out my little guys, which you may have already done, is make them do laps, jump in place, or some other form of exercise. They love to do goofy things like jump up and down on one foot while holding onto their ear or something. After 20 minutes or so of running them hard, I have them begging to stop so they can "rest". Seton's PE course has lots of great ideas. You can sit in a chair and just direct.
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Genevieve
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A waddling pool and a small portable sprinkler system have kept my kids occupied for long periods of time. They love to run through the sprinkler and sometimes even slide down into the small pool.
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Genevieve
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JennGM
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threesilosfarm wrote:
| The other thing I do to tire out my little guys, which you may have already done, is make them do laps, jump in place, or some other form of exercise. They love to do goofy things like jump up and down on one foot while holding onto their ear or something. After 20 minutes or so of running them hard, I have them begging to stop so they can "rest". Seton's PE course has lots of great ideas. You can sit in a chair and just direct. |
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Oh, you just jolted my memory. "Red Light, Green Light" and "Simon Says" would work perfectly for him. Well, not exactly perfect...he has no competition but himself. 
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Cay Gibson
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Jenn,
Buy him a jumprope! 
Also, kids like hopscotch and it's good for teaching their #s.
Another simple idea, yesterday I read Just Me by Marie Hall Ets to the girls. You should be able to find this book easily at the library. After the first reading, they had to pretend they were each animal mentioned in the book. They had to:
walk like a cat,
walk like a rooster,
bath in mud like a pig (not really but they thought it was a fun idea ),
hop like a rabbit,
wriggle like a snake,
eat grass like a cow,
spread wings and run like a goose,
walk like a horse,
climb like a squirrel,
kick legs and butt head like a goat,
leap like a frog,
hide like a turtle,
run like JUST ME!
It was a hit. Annie wanted to keep to "do it again! do it again!" and she's four. Even the eight year old thoroughly enjoyed the activity. 
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
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ShawnaB
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There is 2.5 years between our oldest ds and dd, so he was 4 before she was any kind of an outdoor playmate. When ds was about the same age as your little guy, we put a sandbox in the back yard. It was, and continues to be, the best source of outdoor entertainment we have. Now understand, I do have a love/hate relationship with the sand. Its messy, it makes children messy, and it can be found in every nook and cranny of my house...but the play value is unrivaled. I remember ds at about age 3 sitting there with a variety of tools forever...in the "sand zone." When I feeling especially generous and the day is hot, I allow them to take a slow running hose into the sand box to make lakes and streams. That activity is good for at least an hour...and a bath afterwards!
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Shawna, wife of Jacob, mom to Abraham 8 Amelia 5 and Jillian & Jonathan age 3 years http://www.psalm121family.com
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Marybeth
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Jenn,
I wrote something and then lost it. So, here goes again...sandbox, cars and trucks just for outdoor play, easel with chalk and watercolors, walkie talkies, pin the tail on the donkey, water ballons, make an obstacle course, large boxes to climb in and out, toy animals, army guys, dinosaurs and tools for fixing things.
Do you ever check Craiglist? I know people who have gotten some playhouses and such very cheap. They can be a pain to move but worth it in the end. My sister found a climbing structure for 2-5 yr.olds for $35 for us. My sil got a toy house from Toys r Us which was the floor model. It was filthy so she talked to the manager and got it for $50 which was $225 less than the original price.
Off to get my niece who is wreaking havoc in the toyroom...hope this makes a bit of sense.
Mb
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Cay Gibson
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ShawnaB wrote:
| When ds was about the same age as your little guy, we put a sandbox in the back yard. It was, and continues to be, the best source of outdoor entertainment we have. Now understand, I do have a love/hate relationship with the sand. Its messy, it makes children messy, and it can be found in every nook and cranny of my house...but the play value is unrivaled. |
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Get Gregory a sand/water table. We bought one for Annie on her 2nd birthday and the girls loved it. The water helps make it not so messy.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
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Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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lapazfarm
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Sounds like it's time for a swingset and monkeybars!
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Theresa
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stefoodie
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I second the sand/water table, though in years past I've only done an improvised thing in my house (the pre-made ones are expensive!) I set out two rubbermaid or other containers outside on a table, plus plastic cups, bowls, etc., etc. Other ideas that I got from my eldest dd's preschool were colored pasta or rice (recipes here). Sometimes they'd (the preschool teachers) take the sand and water out of the boxes and let the kids play with these instead.
Painting outside is also fun!!! And I like doing it because it's less messy, especially with fingerpaints.... The only thing is don't do this on a windy day. Bad idea.
And yes, swingsets, etc.
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Becky Parker
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Great ideas above! My kids are on the swingset and in the sand box ALL the time. The newest is playing "adventure hike". I got them each a small inexpensive back pack. They put a water bottle and a snack in it then they head off pretending to be adventurers. There are two of them that do this all the time, the 5 and 7 year olds, but the 5 year old will often do it on his own as well. They climb trees, pretend puddles are quicksand, or whatever. I'm amazed at their creativity - and it all started with a bag to keep their library books in. Of course, I have no clue where the library books are now!
Becky
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ladybugs
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Hey Jenn,
I know you asked about outdoor play but I wanted to take off on an idea that Stef shared...
painting...
when mine were little, aside from letting them paint inside, I would let them also paint in the tub. Sometimes, I'd hang paper in there, other times, it was a free for all on the tub walls.
It was also a great motivator to clean the tub afterwards. Hey, instead of paint you could always give him suds and a paintbrush, too...
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Mare
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You've gotten great suggestions so far. How about frisbee or soccer?
If you can't physically run around playing soccer with your ds, then a simple obstacle course to kick the soccer ball should do. We time how long it takes to do the obstacle course and then see if the dc can improve their personal best.
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LisaD
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Several years ago we bought the least expensive swingset that Toys R Us carried. It has been the best $99 we ever spent! During the summers when I was unable to play much outside with my kids, I'd set a chair next to a swing and push them while seated. I'd also play the game Cay mentioned, while sitting in a chair in the shade, I tell them to walk like a ______, from here to there. They still love this game. I'd also roll a hula hoop (while seated) and they would run to catch it and bring it back. Bean bags are great fun. There are catching games, throwing games, walking/running while balancing them games--just make them up!
I'd love to get a little rebounder trampoline for when it's too hot to play outside and the kids need to burn off some energy.
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JennGM
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THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! Fabulous ideas, and keep them coming. Dh and I were just discussing a swingset, and after having ds play all day on the beach during vacation, I was really thinking the sand box was a must. His birthday is next month, so this gives me a good excuse.
Thanks again, ladies.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Sarah
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This first thig that came to me was a sandbox, as others have mentioned. It can occupy hours.
There is the mess, though, but its WORTH IT, because you can sit there and relax.
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Maddie
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Sandbox is a great idea...just umm...keep the lid tightly closed when not in use. Neighborhood cats, well, I found out the hard way. 
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~Maddie~
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Maybe a weekly visit to a playground? He might hook up with some other energetic kids and burn off the energy while you sit on a bench and watch?
My dd, 3 1/2 just started being quite energetic and a weekly playground visit does wonders for her--though her personality requirs MY attendence at the play structure so I also get tired. I hope she grows into talking to other kids as we visit more often.
Ds,when he was younger, loved our little $20 trampeline, and my exercise ball, and throwing bean bags into buckets and at things(in a safe area of course), and an obstacle course or chalk town/roads drawn on the driveway for his bike.
Hope that helps, good luck!
Anne
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Bridget
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Jenn,
Right now, my 2 1/2 year old spends a lot of time on his little scooter and kicking a small soccer ball into a net.
This is a silly thing, but he also spends a lot of time moving a rock pile around to suit his plans for his dump trucks.
Rocks, sand, sticks... they're the besy play things! 
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Bridget, happily married to Kevin, mom to 8 on earth and a small army in heaven
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angiesherm
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Hi, when my boys were younger they loved to have paint brushes and water and paint on the driveway. Not messy at all and occupies them for quite a while! My daughter who is one now loves to paint w/just water now too. They also love their scooters, skates and sidwalk chalk! Oh, and can't forget the soccer and basketballs!
Good Luck,
Angela
wife to Dave,
mom to Brett, Ryan and Hallie
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Topic: Ideas for Alone Outdoor Play
