My toddlers want me to play games and do activities with them all day, they can't even be in a room by themselves, ages are 3.5 and 2 years old, what should I do
My toddlers want me to play games and do activities with them all day, they can't even be in a room by themselves, ages are 3.5 and 2 years old, what should I do
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7 Replies
As a mum who was always too "busy" juggling work and motherhood, playing wasn't high on my priority list at the time. But now as a mum with a son about to start prep in the new year and having secondary infertility problems facing the very real possibility I may not be able to have another baby, I regret so much not stopping to play!
My advice is, if you can spare the time, play with your toddlers. They are only little once and it's not forever that they will be asking you to play.
Set them up and be there while they're doing it. They could do things like wash plastic dishes while you wash your dishes etc build a cubby, do painting oe water play you dont have to do everything they do but supervise and be around and involved.
By four they will be doing longer activities all alone.
I would play with them so,me times, I would encourage them to help me at times and I'd also start to teach them that they can play on there own sometimes.
It's about balance and being able to entertain yourself for 15 minutes with out adult interaction is a life skill.
Set them up with a favourite activity and then as soon as they are engaged in it,move away a small distance. You can tell them they are doing well, offer encouragement and answer questions from a distance. You could set a timer so they learn they need to play on there own until the timer goes off. Start with really short times like 2 minutes and then build from there.
I play with my son for probably about an hour every day. Honestly, I don't love it..haha. But he wants me to and loves it. So I don't mind. Other times I try to make him play on his own. I think playing with them is a really good bonding time. I even do funny voices for the toys.... Would be embarrassing if anyone was watching...haha.
Play with them for a little bit but they also need to learn independent play too try and find a balance in between both that way you get time to do the things you need too around the house ect other wise as they grow if they don't know how to play by them selfs it can cause issues once starting kinda and school
I think I know why your worried ! I have 3 aged 5,3,1 and they follow me EVERYWHERE and I mean everywhere ! Baby duckling style lol
Some days it is really hard as not only do they follow but all I hear all day is "mum mum mum mum mum ... mum can I do m can I have mum cN you help me mum can you play mum can you sit with me mum why are you doing that " and it's continuous and relentless ... sometimes I just ask them to stop play who can be quiet the longest just so I can think haha
So ... kids personalities come into it , kids ages come into it and their play environment comes into it ... the best strategy I have is having an activity set up in the near vicinity of me . If I move away so do they ... right now as I write this I have a paper book
On my lap and they are all drawing in it ha! SO if you need to be. Cleaning or cooking either get them involved or if it's too hard set up your pots for them to bang on or plastics to mess around , drawing on the table near by is a good one , or a bucket of water in some towels on the floor (my kids love this one )
If your cleaning bed rooms just let them play around you ... bathroom is a bit trickier do that when they sleep ;)
Washing can be tricky but I have a couple of extra baskets they climb in and out of and chuck around (just the cheap ones ) it requires you to get creative but they love being near you just find a way to make it work
As for you time or space ..... I'm yet to figure that one out I'm constantly trying to figure out how to be ok with none :-/
Enjoy your children now play with them the house work can wait a bit
Before you know it they won't want you near them cherish every moment
I wish I did more with my two boys