Need other parents advice!!!!!!!!!

[lex20036]

I'm 22 years old with a 4 year old. I want to find new ways to keep him occupied after bring him home from daycare. I feel that he spends way to much time in front of the t.v. after I help him with his homework. The thing is for me is that I'm a full-time college student and I have to spend time studying and doing my homework. I dont really have the time to do one-on-one activities with him during the time I'm studying. What can I do?

[cay8099]

You could try taking your homework outside with you and letting him run in the yard.
Have TV free days when he needs to find something else to occupy himself while your busy. I know how you feel with TV being too important. My son is obsessed with TV, but kids are suprizingly good at finding things to occupy themselves.

[gostomskiart]

What about any of the learning games he do (like LeapFrog LeapPad?) so if he does have tv time it could be more interactive for learning? I like the idea of tv free days as well. Also, does he have certain toys he really like that are good for singular activity (like blocks or legos?)

[MommaC]

Taking your homework outside is a good idea. You could also have him work with you at the table. Maybe you take a 10-minute break to draw/color/play-doh with him then you go back to homework (still at the table with him) while he continues. Making dinner with you counts as a "together activity". I know how pressing college homework is, but taking a few 10-min or 15-min breaks is good for your relationship with your son AND for your brain (in terms of learning and memory, etc.).

[luckymama2]

When I need some time to do something I will at times allow my three and a half year old daughter go online to pbssproutonline.com where she can play age appropriate preschool games. Its more interactive than tv and she has to think in order to do some of the games, there are others where she colors using the mouse but I still like it better than zoning out in front of the tube. Also, the leapster thing is a good idea; I am actually getting a Leapster 2 for my daughter from santa this year with some games.

Also, my daughter loves playdoh, coloring, and any sort of crafty thing. Playdoh keep her occupied for over an hour! She got one of those playdoh playsets for her birthday and she loves it. Finger painting or even painting with brushes/sponges of different shapes is a lot of fun for them! Making necklaces out of fruit loops and cheerios is fun and edible, making macaroni art where she glues on different pasta onto construction paper and using markers and stickers to decorate is something she enjoys too, and even putting away a box of his toys and taking them out on a random day is fun as they are "new" in a way. When you do have time to spend with him he should be old enough for games like Chutes and Ladders and Candyland..those are always good classics! My daughter even somewhat played UNO the other day with her cousins and kinda got the hang of it, I was surprised as I thought she was on the young side for that game but she does know her numbers and colors. It may take him some time however to get used to being unplugged, so don't give in. Sometimes my daughter says she doesn't want to do something but ends up having fun with it if I stay firm that there is no tv right now.

[stay_positive25]

try leting him stay at daycare for an xtra hour so you can do you studyn.or maybe change bed time hours and wait to do your homework when he is sleeping. the breaks in between your studing is good but hes 4years old. so he needs all your free time. yes they find things to do but when your tryin to study you can get frustrated if hes not silent. so then he feels like hes doin somethin wrong. and kids love for us to read to them so maybe you could read what your studyn. he needs to know hes important.