i need some ideas on what to get our soon to be 3yr. old.we do not allow alot of tv time so i was tring to think of a "good" movie or a nice learning game. what was the best gift you remember getting? we got our 4 yr. old a pony{free} but the 3yr. old is to younge and is not showing intrest in them. do they make shirly temple movies?

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), August 09, 2000

Answers

Hi Renee, I dont know if Shirley Temple movies are available to buy but you can rent them at some stores (not the big chains). They are great and my girls love them. Here's an idea that I've put together for my own kids and others too: I buy a small tackle box or tool box (depends on the kid) and fill it with fun gadgets. Small retractable measuring tapes seem to be a hot item in the 3 year old circuit, also small hammers, pliers, magnifying glass, bug catching net, rubber balls, string, tape, stickers, envelopes, self inking stamps. If your three year old likes animals but not the pony, you might try bantam chickens. They aren't quite so intimidating. Also, rats make great pets, they dont bite when the kids are a little rough with them but their cages start getting a bit smelly if you dont keep them really clean. I suppose they could live outside in a garage. Hope this helps!

-- Julie Capasso (julieamc@excite.com), August 09, 2000.

Lots of Legos and building blocks! Our four spent endless hours with them, and they spark a LOT of creativity.

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), August 09, 2000.

Hi Renee: When I was a youngster my mother owned a nursery school and she cut sanded and varnished about a hundred small pieces of 12inch 2 by 4s and every kid there always headed for those blocks first!! Cheap fun on the Lego theme only bigger.....Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), August 09, 2000.

Here is another great idea. I haven't tried it, but I want to. You get all kids of PVC connectors, and so PVC pipe. You cut the PVC into short lengths making sure you have plenty of each size. The you paint the PVC and Give as a great building toy. Kids can make chairs and tables and all kinds of fun things.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@calinet.com), August 09, 2000.

I go along with the giant tinker toy PVC pieces and the blocks. Another favorite is books, with simple costumes to match - for instance, Robin Hood. If you don't like the current commercial cartoons (and why would you?!), look for classic childrens stories at the library or used book stores. 3 year olds have a ton of imagination, washable finger paint, play clay - or, one of our favorite - a tarp. It was a tent, a magic carpet, part of a tree house , a tee-pee (with the finger paint on it for designs!) and many other things. Happy birthday to the little one!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), August 09, 2000.

Renee, Shirley Temple movies are available at Wal Mart here. I have gotten Little Princess ( my daughter loves it) Rebecca of sonnybrook farms, and The Blue Bird ( I love ) She thinks it's a little scary. When she was 3&4 she would hardly watch tv. But she liked Barney and any sing along ( short ) program. Also she and other kids at our church love the Veggie Tales.( Bob & Larry Boy ) cant go wrong with them;from nursery to elementary. Good luck and happy birthday to your baby.

-- Bonnie (josabo1@juno.com), August 09, 2000.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Veggie Tale videos!!! Especially - Where's God When I'm Scared, God Wants Me to Forgive THEM?!?, and Are You My Neighbor? The last two are some of MY favorites because they have take-offs on Star Trek and Giligan's Island (which only the adults can appreciate)LOL. Either of the Larry Boy videos are good too.

For a 3 yr. old the very large legos "Duplos" would be the best. No choking hazard. All our boys have loved them. Our 4 yr. old likes for me to build him animals or a zoo to put his plastic animals in. My 13 yr old still "plays" with Legos. Now he builds Star Wars A.T.-A.T. Walkers and such. The play value is endless. But you have to play with them at first to teach them how to use them.

A barn with animals is usually good. Fisher Price has a really nice one. Our 4 yr. old loves his.

Simple puzzles

Art supplies (washable for 3 yr. old)

Books

Dinosaurs (large size) - our oldest started acquiring them when he was young and it has continued down to our youngest. Now we have quite a collection which our 4 yr. has alot of fun with.

Tent or teepee - My wife found simple directions for making a teepee out of two sheets and some bias tape. The older boys decorated it and "helped" Grandpa cut the small trees (poles) for a school project but they still get it out from time to time to play with it. The title of the book is American Indian Habitats, by Nancy Simon and Evelyn Wolfson.

Cars and trucks

The boys have a closet full of toys but these get the most play time. Hope this helps.

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), August 09, 2000.

I forgot to mention to stay away from computer games for preschoolers. I read an article in the paper last month that said the computer learning games are actually bad for kids because it interfers with natural learning skills. They need time to develope introductory skills for reading, math, etc. I don't remember how it interfers but it may be a visual/brain thing. They recommend waiting till a child is about 7 yrs. old. to introduce computer games. Any perceived "time lost" will quickly be made up. We have had our computer for 20 months and my 14 yr old can compute circles around my wife (understands the thing) and me (knows enough to Ebay). Once again the almighty dollar (selling comp. games) is more important than the well being of the consumer.

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), August 09, 2000.

Renee, I can only tell you what sort of things my kids would like/would get at the age of three:

a bunch of thrift store dinosaurs and action figures, a big magnet and old keys and stuff to play with, a good quality red rubber ball, a pack of those super boucey balls, play-doh, fingerpaints or watercolors and thick paper, new colored chalk for the chalkboard, a little bag of treats (like one lollipop, a few tootsie rolls, etc)

All in one big box. And their favorite dinner, followed by a homemade cake with goofy things on it.

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), August 10, 2000.

If you can spend a little time, try putting together a bunch of jars or tubs full of various craft supplies that are really cheap: You go to various businesses and manufacturers and see what scraps they have left over after doing what they do. Here's a sample - newsprint ends from the news paper (sometimes you put a small deposit on the core, which you get back when you return it), cloth and yarn scraps from clothing and textile manuf., wooden odds and ends from woodshops, confetti paper from packaging manuf., shredded paper or all sorts from businesses that have stuff delivered in boxes, etc etc. Sort and put into appropriate containers, and take out when craft projects are called for. Also a set of books called Kid Concoctions shows how to make "Gak", viewscopes, sidewalk chalk, etc from household supplies. For 24.95 + S&H you get 2 vols. and several "add ons" like chalk molds and mixing bowls. 1-800-594-5599 or www.kidconcoctions.com Check first to see if the price is up to date.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), August 10, 2000.

So many great suggestions! I'll just add a couple:our little girl loved the Memory game. (The frustrating thing was she the fact that she could beat us!lol) She's never seen a Shirley Temple movie-we don't watch much- but she always loved to watch The Sound of Music with me.During the nonsinging parts,she'd go in her room and reenact it with her dolls.So long,farewell,aweidersang[S.P!],goodbye... ~~~Tracy~~~ P.S.Books,paper,crayons+a big pink cake.

-- Tracy Jo Neff (tntneff@ifriendly.com), August 10, 2000.

In our house, Little Bear videos are popular. Dress up stuff, from junk jewelry, hats, gloves and thrift store finds (or mom's closet) to cowboy outfits, Grandpa's overalls, large pieces of fabric or lace...The choices are limited only by your imagination.

On special days like the 4th rainy day in a row or the 1st beautiful spring day, I pull THE TRUNK from the closet, and the kids provide me with the best photo opportunities!

How about a dress up birthday party where the guests wear tights and 'tards and you can send them home with keepsake photos.

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), August 12, 2000.

Games, building toys, (duplo, legos, linclon logs) are good. If you have a computer there are a number of good computer programs. Learning as well as fun. The reader rabbit series is great

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), August 15, 2000.

who plays shirly timple in the new movie please i am a fan of hers i grow up watching her movies and know i want to know stuff about her.

-- sherree keeton (arlenekeeton2002@yahoo.com), March 04, 2002.