Averting Disaster with a Preschooler: Tips on Entertaining During Long Waits

Whoever said the "two's" were terrible didn't have a three year old. I live with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and she's a 3 foot tall redhead. Don't get me wrong, I love my daughter and most of the time she has amazing manners. But on those rare days...Mr. Hyde comes out and that's what people remember.

I am a stay-at-home mom and live far from family so I do not often have the luxury of a babysitter. My little girl comes everywhere with me. Here are a few tried and true recipes for averting potential disaster in public with an ornery three year old:

Carry back up activities.

We went to the eye doctor the other day and I carried my "big" purse. Yes, it is the size of a large carry-on but most assuredly needed! In it I carry: my regular purse, coloring books, crayons, gum, snacks, water, two stuffed animals, three books and the iPod. When you are not sure how long you will be, particularly in a doctor's office, make sure you have a lot of activities. Most of the time, my daughter loves to explore the different books and magazines in the office but if we're moving into nap time, it's best to have some familiar items. My iPod comes in handy especially when my daughter is in the beginning stages of a meltdown. It's a special treat to watch a show on the iPod.

Use what you have.

But what about those times you do not have back up activities? Getting caught without coloring books and crayons happens often enough to me! Take for instance the unexpected delays in picking up my glasses. They broke a lens, forgot to finish, et cetera and we were stuck waiting for nearly two hours. And the "big purse" was at home.

If you have extra change, play the Hide-A-Penny game. This works even with older children. Have your child hide his eyes while you hide a certain number of pennies in the general area you are waiting. With a three year old, you don't have to go any farther than where you are sitting. Once he or she has found the coins, switch places. My daughter loves to hide pennies for me.

Let your child color your day timer. I always carry a small day timer in my purse and often it becomes a coloring book for my daughter. The pages for previous dates work nicely and allowing her to use my pen makes it even more fun for her.

Gum works. I know for some children it isn't not a good idea but I taught my daughter how to blows bubbles in the airport waiting area. Even blowing bubbles they can pop is fun!

If you have a girl, "dress up" is a fun diversion. I usually carry chapstick, comb and a compact and my daughter enjoys pretending to put on makeup. It's usually a mess-free game too. Of course, I have to replace the chapstick often...but...it's worth it.

Going on a Bear Hunt is another fun, creative game to play while waiting. It requires nothing but a creative mind. The beauty of the game is that children can play it while sitting still (hand motions only) and you can have a different adventure every time. If you've never played it, here are the words and the motions:

Going on a bear hunt...(You start and your child repeats the phrase.)

Motion: Simulate "walking" by patting your right leg with your right hand and alternating to your left leg with left hand.

Gonna catch a big one!

I'm not afraid...
Motion: Point to self.

Are you?
Motion: Point to child.

I see a wheat field.

Can't go over it...

Can't go around it...

Guess we'll have to go through it.

Going on a bear hunt,

Gonna catch a big one!

I'm not afraid,

Are you?

I see a mountain.

Can't go under it...

Can't go around it...

Guess we'll have to climb up it.

Motion: Simulate a climbing motion.

(The game continues with any number of scenarios. You can swim across a river, run through a meadow, walk across a bridge, go through a snowstorm, etc.)

I see a cave.

Can't go over it...

Can't go around it...

Guess we'll have to go in.

Motion: Tiptoe or simulate quiet by putting your finger to your mouth.

I see two eyes.

I see two ears.

I see a wet nose!

Oh no! It's a bear!

Motion: Start "running" and retrace your steps back to your "home."

Quickly, run back through the meadow! (Or whatever you've done.)

Swim back across the lake!

Run up the mountain, run down the other side.

Run back through the wheat field!

Open the door to the house.

Close the door.

Lock the door.

Run upstairs to the bed.

Jump into bed.

Cover up your head!

Motion: Be creative. You can turn "knobs" for the doors, throw deadbolts, etc.

Whew!

We're not going on a bear hunt again!

Another fun, equipment-free game is "I Spy." A friend introduced this game to my daughter while they were getting their hair done for a wedding. It kept her entertained for an hour...even though she "spied" the same thing every time it was her turn!

If you are in a place that you can do this, such as an airport terminal, take adventure walks. Airplane travel is rough because you have to sit still on planes. So take advantage of wait time in the airport and walk off some energy. We will march, skip, "slither", walk like birds, elephants, etc. throughout the terminal. Get into it with your child. It's fun and you'll never see these people again anyway!

Last but not least, my daughter and I play a "guess what" game. In an effort to use waiting time as teaching time, I started drawing letters on paper and having her guess what one it is. Now that she knows her letters, we've moved into a form of Pictionary. I attempt to draw animals and she tries to guess.

You can't always avoid a meltdown with a tired preschooler or toddler, but hopefully these ideas can help avert some disasters. Waiting is hard on anyone, but particularly young ones.