Have 2 Kids, the Oldest Wants More Attention!!!

Just try to make it through the next two years and then you will have kids that can play together and not be so attached to you. Just count the days . . . just kidding! I always wanted to have three kids and be a stay-at-home-mom but things just didn't work out that way for me. so I am a single, working mom of one . . .

you can:
take them to the McWayne Center
to some kind of indoor sports/gymnastics place where they can burn off some energy
libraries have free story time (just call yours to see)
they can play educational computer games
get a subscription to family fun magazine which has all kinds of ideas to do
you can once week, have a theme day in the house . . . make your house like a 'circus day' or have all the 'foods be orange day' or today is the 'letter A day' and do things with that letter
circus day:
decorating:
Use LOTS of balloons and streamers in primary colors.
Using paper towel tubes and streamers. A stuffed monkey makes for a cute trapeze artist! Circus posters on the walls and front door. Place stuffed animals all around.

Circus or Games:
Give each child a popcorn box at the beginning of the
game time. They will be filled as they play.
If you really want to go "all out" decorate game stations
with paint, butcher paper, streamers and balloons.

Mouse Holes
You'll need a cardboard box and three golf balls.
Cut 3 "mouse holes" on the box. Use a piece of Tape to mark the starting point.
The children roll the balls and attempt to get them into the holes. I cut the holes in various sizes for different skill levels.
Lollipop Tree
You'll Need several small prizes, lollipops and a Styrofoam ball. With 3 different colored markers, place a dot on the end of each lollipop stick and insert them into the Styrofoam ball.
Place prizes into 3 corresponding lunch bags. Red for red dots, Blue for blue dots etc. The players pick one lollipop and collects a prize from the corresponding prize bag.

Tin Can "Shoot"
The children use water guns to knock down empty frozen juice cans. Cover the cans with construction paper
and place them on a bench.

Fishing
Make fishing pole with a dowel, string, and clothes pin.
Place a "helper" behind a board or some other barrier to hide.
The children toss their fishing line over the divider and the helper clips a Prize onto their pole. Younger children Love this!

Any games will do. It's a carnival, have lots of fun
and helpers available!
Ring toss, Bean bag Toss, Horse shoes, Lawn Bowling Hula Hoops, Obstacle course, Balloon Darts (older children only) Face painting, Water Balloon Toss,
Relay races...

here’s some websites you can try for ideas:
www.dltk-kids.com
Great website for letter activities. We use the 'Alphabuddies' when we are learning a new letter and the kids really like it.
SNOWMAN BUILDER
http://www.serena1.com/Snowman/snowman-night.html
This is really cute.
EduHound
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Crayola Creativity Central
Has sections for parents, educators, and kids. Contains resources such as coloring book pages, greeting cards, and lesson plans for art projects. Search the best way to remove a crayola product from an undesirable surface

I also have two children and I am 25. I have a 6 year old and a 2 year old. My daughter who is 6 always asks why her little brother gets to do more, sit in our laps, why she she has to clean her room and he doesn't, etc. We talk to her a lot about how is just younger and smaller. What I try to do is take her for special trips just the two of us. I tell her how it is our time away from her little brother. And since he is so small, his feelings don't get hurt yet. With your husband being gone, this may be a challenge for you to get away with only one child. Perhaps a neighbor or friend would be willing to watch the little one just for an hour or so. This always makes my daughter very happy......at least for a little while. :-)

hey berni here , when my children were that age the one that was acting out well i just told her if she is being bad like that i will ignore her . every time that happened she would notice i payed no att. at all she would start minding.

also children get very board so i would suggest planning out there whole day breakfast at 6 ? games for 1 hour . lunch etc. and stick by it every day they will be tottally different. also when you ignore the one thats acting out make sure you tell him the reason why. your friend berni good luck and GOD BLESS

Hi C.! I have 3 boys myself and it's not as bad as your situation, but I understand. Maybe you could ask Malachi to help you with the baby. Give him a sense of caring and responsibity towards his lil brother. This shows him that he should love abd take care of his brother rather be jealous of him. As far as activities, Chucke-Cheese is the place to be. The closest one is in Southaven, MS. They will have a blast and even you.

Oh my goodness, reading your letter I can totally feel your pain! I have a 4 year old who is a total mama's boy and wild child and a 20 month old who is a jealous mama's boy too. They are so mean to each other, sometimes I just don't know what to do. I only work 2 days a week, so I am home with them by myself most of the time too. My husband is in the military, so he's gone alot also. In fact, he's in Spain right now. I have tried everthing to get my children to play nice, but sometimes I just have to seperate them. Let them play in different rooms with different toys. It also is a godsend that my parents live here in town and can take one of them sometimes so each of them can get one on one time with me. That seems to help alot. Also, since its cold outside, do you have any friends with kids their age you can have playdates with? That will help get some energy out! Or just go walk through the mall with your stroller. There are so many lights and decorations now, there will be alot for them to look at. I know that really depends on how your child is though, because in a crowded mall, my oldest wants to run off sometimes. I hope everything works out for you guys! Good luck with your boys!

C.

Hi C.~ I too have a 3 and 1 yr old boys. They both want my undivided attention. My 1 yr old is much more of a mamas boy then my 3 yr old. Being a stay at home mom is tough and you have to improvise alot! I have found that when I lay my 1 yr old for a nap, if I spend some time with the other one the day goes alot smoother. I just keep the T.V off and color with him, play ball, trains, read to him or just get him in my lap and talk and cuddle.Also if you need to get things done my 3 yr old LOVES to help. I let him help me unload the dishwasher, load the washer, help me load the dryer, dust etc. It gives him a sense of resposibility and being a "big boy helper". Then when he goes down for a nap or at night I put him to bed first and spend some time with my 1 yr old. Remember this: Your one yr old will not remember if he has to stay in his pack and play for a hour while you spend time with the other one.
Good luck~C.