Caring for Infant & Entertaining Three-yr-old

[Anonymous]

Any advice on how to balance an infant (mine's three months) and an older child (just turning three) who isn't in school yet? He's watching too much tv, I don't have the motivation to entertain him that I used to. We used to go out - to activities, to the park, etc. I'd like to send him to school at this point, but it's rather late in the school year. Anyone else in the same situation?

[Anonymous]

I think you need to start taking the infant with you to the park and other places. Babies are pretty portable at that age. Use a stroller, bjorn or sling and get out there. My second child loves listening to the music at gymboree class and they were very flexible about me having the baby with me when it was so little. Look into Music Together too - its great. There always the zoo and the park, and the play area at the mall while its still cold out. Babies sleep a lot - get the 3 year old to do art work while the baby and you play on the floor. There are also gymnastics classes, book reading at the library and at book stores, kids music at Jammin Java (and babies are free there). You just need to start getting out - its not going to get easier.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat, and here's what we do:

Gloomy day activities : Museum of Natural History, Building Museum, Air and Space
Nice day activities: National Zoo (we got a membership and we practically live there)

In-house activities: Making cookies or muffins, and LOTs of coloring.