My Own Child Bored

[Provider_Manda]

My son Is 4 1/2 and we decided not to spend him to preschool, but now all I have in daycare is little ones and he gets very bored with not having "big" kids around. And I understand that completely. But how can I make it more fun for him?

Thanks, Manda

[nannyde]

How little is the next youngest?

[Provider_Manda]

Ages 8 months, 1 year, 2 years old I have them everyday then a 3 year old that's a varied schedule and a 4 year old on Fridays.

[Soccermom]

Could you enroll him in a few evening activities? Maybe having that to look forward to all day will keep him excited.

Does he enjoy helping? You could give him a reward chart for helping with the daycare and have him earn rewards.

Maybe let him get in on some of your weekly planning? Try to plan some games, activites or projects that will keep him happy but can be tailored to suit the little ones as well?

[nannyde]

The two year old should be a great playmate. What do you mean by age difference? Two years is not a big age difference at all?

[Provider_Manda]

The two year old has speech delays and developmental delays. He will only interact with the younger children ( he just turned 2)

[Controlled Chaos]

My 4yo has a box of her special big kid stuff. I now have a few her age, but there was a while she was the oldest by a lot. If she is bored with the babies she take her box to the table and does a puzzle, works on her PreK workbook (I do prek time with all the kids but she loved tracing and mazes and what not so I got her an extra one), her little ponies, a magnet/picture game.) Having something special also helps her cope with sharing all of her toys all the time as the daycare room is my kids' room too. It is a giant master bedroom so it is a great playroom.

[cheerfuldom]

I would find a preschool for him.

[Provider_Manda]

I don't want to send him to preschool and he doesn't want to go.. I think I will look into the reward chart and letting him have his own special box of some sort.

[cheerfuldom]

Has he gone to preschool and had a bad experience? What do you mean "he doesnt want to go"? I am just curious if he even understands what he is saying if he has never been to preschool.

[Blackcat31]

I don't want to send him to preschool and he doesn't want to go.. I think I will look into the reward chart and letting him have his own special box of some sort.

Also curious about what he means by not wanting to go and why?

If he doesn't want to go somewhere else that is age appropriate, then he must not be too bored....kwim?

[Shell]

I finally put ds (4) in a pre-k two days a week. It's expensive, but I find he is listening better, and making some new friends. If you just don't want to put him in preschool, I find it is helpful to make ds a helper, and give him space to play by himself as much as possible. Like pp's suggested, maybe sign him up for a class- weekends maybe. I put him in preschool at 3- didn't like it, didn't feel he needed it, and pulled him out. After 4 years of daycare at home, I feel like it's good for him to get out just a little bit.

[Controlled Chaos]

I finally put ds (4) in a pre-k two days a week. It's expensive, but I find he is listening better, and making some new friends. If you just don't want to put him in preschool, I find it is helpful to make ds a helper, and give him space to play by himself as much as possible. Like pp's suggested, maybe sign him up for a class- weekends maybe. I put him in preschool at 3- didn't like it, didn't feel he needed it, and pulled him out. After 4 years of daycare at home, I feel like it's good for him to get out just a little bit.

Yes, this.
My dd is in Sunday school and dance class mainly so she gets to practice listening to someone other than me she needs a mom break bad!

[Play Care]

I finally put ds (4) in a pre-k two days a week. It's expensive, but I find he is listening better, and making some new friends. If you just don't want to put him in preschool, I find it is helpful to make ds a helper, and give him space to play by himself as much as possible. Like pp's suggested, maybe sign him up for a class- weekends maybe. I put him in preschool at 3- didn't like it, didn't feel he needed it, and pulled him out. After 4 years of daycare at home, I feel like it's good for him to get out just a little bit.

Me too! Well, not pre-K but when my kids tured 4 we did a traditional preschool (mornings, 3 hours 3 days a week) They LOVED it, and I really noticed how much better they did when they had their preschool time. It's hard to describe but both really blossomed.

On a side note, the added benefit for me was that it sent the message to my dcp's that my own kids were not here for their entertainment and amusement...And they needed that

[Provider_Manda]

Has he gone to preschool and had a bad experience? What do you mean "he doesnt want to go"? I am just curious if he even understands what he is saying if he has never been to preschool.

He has never gone, but he says he don't want to go. He is. It bad when he is home but I can tell he just doesn't play as much when it's just the little ones. I honestly do t want to send him.. If I felt he needed it, it would be different. But I just don't want to make him have to grow up any sooner than what he already has to. He goes to Sunday school and jr. Church and usually on e a week will go to one of his grandparents. I just was looking for some ideas to help him with the little ones, since most of the week that is all he has.