First Time Mom - Abington,PA

My brother is a football coach and they took their Fisher Price booster seat with the tray on it. Their little boy was a little smaller but if he fits it may work. They took coloring stuff and books to do on the tray. Also they did cookie sheets and magnets. Hope this helps!!

My 3 year old son is the same way and we are constantly at soccer games with his older sister. I find his portable car dvd player is good to keep him and other children occupied. We also have the leapster game system which he brings sometimes. The only problem is when it is very sunny it is harder to see. We have also tried sticker books and those coloring books that you use the special pens with for the longer tournaments, so he has more than one thing. We just keep a bunch of stuff, (ie differnet videos & games, books, etc) in a small backpack for him in the car so we can just grab it and go when we get to the game. Good luck.

Dear J.,
You didn't specify whether this was a high school, college or pro game. That in itself might bear on what those around you will expect. You also didn't indicate what time of day the game would be, which might also be a factor. For instance, an afternoon game right after naptime might be a challenge b/c he'll want to be using some of the energy he regained at naptime. On the other hand, an evening/night game could be challenging, too, because he might be tired & unfamiliar with the surroundings.
Naturally, you'll want to take snacks or treats & PLENTY of liquids along. If he's potty-trained, you'll need to know where the nearest bathroom is & keep in mind that he may have to go several times throughout the course of the game.
If you don't think he'll be able to sit for the 2-3 hours required, or that you'll be able to respond without frustration to the anticipated frequent interruptions, perhaps it would be best to consider leaving him with a family member or babysitter that you trust. This way he can play and have fun while you're enjoying the game, and you won't have to be worried about either keeping track of him or how he's doing with whoever is watching him.
Speaking from experience, three is probably a bit young to expect to sit for that length of time without being able to run around periodically, and will only lead to frustration for both him and you as well.

I think it is unreasonable to ask a 2 year old to sit through out a football game, and possibly unsafe to take him someplace that is so crowded. When have you ever seen him sit still at home for 2-3 hours? I'd get a babysitter, or skip the game until next year, or the year after.

If somehow he HAS to go to the game, I'd try a DVD player AND the bag of toys. But honestly, do you really want him watching TV for 2 hours? Or out in the sun for that long?

JMHO...

Hi J.,

I also have a very active 3 year old boy who just can't sit still when we are out. What I noticed was that when we are in the car and turn a movie on, my son is as quiet as can be. So I decided to add a couple of Disney movies to my MP3 player. Something small so that he can hold and I can store in my purse. Guess what, it worked! So now, everywhere I go, I make sure I have my trusty MP3 player with me. I added some Sesame Street movies on there as well. MP3 players are pretty cheap. You can find a free software online to convert the original movie to a MP3 format. If you need any help with that, please let me know.

Good Luck!!

J.

Some toys that keep my kids entertained on the run are magnetic drawing boards (get one without extra pieces that can get lost or attach them to the carring handle with ribbon), Etch-a-sketch, Leapster, those activity books that you paint with water then they dry and you can do it all over again. My kids also like to take pictures with my digital camera. If that is something that interests your son and you will be attending several football games (or other events where you need this type of entertainment for him), maybe get him a children's digital camera.

J.,
he does not like the football GAME ? sounds like you are a hardy 'sports' family.......
ahh... this is a challege .
- either teach to sit and play w/ varoom cars/football illustrated type book w/ all the teams [ he may like the pix of helmets etc] he can circle the cool ones ,
- hire a baby sitter while it is game time .
- find any other 3 year olds in the stands to sit next too [ diversion] .
By 3 yr . sports kids are really 'into' sports ...
good luck .. try to keep this stress free .
he simply may not 'like' football ... he may be a swimmer instead ...
grammy

That's such a hard age to take to stuff like that. I would get him a Leapster. Video games really help my little boy when we are at his brother's games.

A friend of a friend takes a small plastic tote with locking handles and a lid to each game. She has it filled with sand and those same dollar store toys another mom mentioned. Her preschooler spends the ENTIRE time digging in the sand and it's "portable"! Good luck!

Hi J.,

Do you have a family member or friend that can care for him while you all go out?

Just want to know. D.

This is something I've done on car trips when my son was younger....hit the dollar store and pick up some new things and dole them out every 20 minutes or so.....that night keep him busy. Does he like to draw or color? Most boys like to play with small cars...can he vroom them on the benches? Does he like music? Could you try a radio/CD/MP3 player? Just a few thoughts.

My favorite take-along toy has been a Moon Sand kit. It's definitely messy stuff, so you want to keep it outside, but it folds up into a small plastic "briefcase" with inflated edges & velcro to keep the sand in. It's not huge and it's not really a lap toy, but if he's short enough to stand (or maybe kneel) on the bleachers, he could use his seat as a countertop to play in his "sandbox."
You can find these sets at Toys R Us and sometimes Walmart/Target.

A less complicated take-along would be lacing shapes that use cardboard shapes or animals with holes punches along the edges. The child uses a shoelace and threads it up and down through the holes to outline his shape. If you're crafty, you could even make your own with cardboard and a holepunch.

Ooo--another idea. Does he need to practice his colors or numbers? You could make up a chart and have him count things (hats? shirts?) or put a checkmark next to each color he sees around him. Kind of like a super-simple scavenger hunt. It would require more prep work on your part, but it could be worth it. I actually conquered grocery shopping this way, by giving my kids a clipboard with a few pictures of things we were shopping for and putting them in charge of their "list." Just a thought.

If all else fails--take a couple of containers of tiny foods. Raisins, sunflower seeds, nuts, dried cranberries, goldfish. It helps if it's an unusual treat.

And if none of these appeal, try the Family Fun Magazine website for ideas. They're terrific and you may find printables or some activity that you can tailor to his age group.

Good luck to you. In some ways, it does get easier with experience!