My 7 year old has struggled to play by herself since forever. Even her teacher has commented about her constantly needing someone else around at all times and has said alone play is needed. So I wrote down a whole range of play ideas and I let her pick one out of a cup. I have written down stuff like
Play circus
Play schools
Play superheroes
Write a letter
Make a paper flower
Write a story
Play a stacking game
Play castles
Do some colouring
Read a book
Draw a picture
Play dress ups
Can anyone give me more ideas? She really likes picking one out and she is actually doing them on her own. It's going great so far, just needing more ideas that she can do on her own.
Please note: we live in a NY style apartment in the city and do NOT have a backyard. So no outdoor activities please.
15 Replies
Lego, puzzles, find a word/sudoku (for her age), make a card for someone’s birthday etc, write a letter to grandparent.
Great ideas! Thank you 😊
I just made a wordsearch and my daughter made me one back! So cute. Thanks again for the idea 😁
Play dough, dot to dots, activity books, beading, threading, dolls, shadows, music, dancing, watercolour paints, puppets, Kmart has lots of little packs of activities and things to make, build a tent, teddy bears picnic, my kids have these magnetic tiles that they make things out of from Kmart that are pretty cool, tea party, makeup if you’re game to let her have a few things.
I actually think this is a great idea. I used to do something similar when I was working as a nanny
Thanks so much! Yeah I love the idea, she's only done it for 1 day so far but she is enjoying it. I was actually going to go to Kmart tomorrow but I'm in Brisbane and it may be raining too much so might have to go later in the week.
One of my favourite things to do at this age was get in the dirt and play with a bucket full of match box cars. I know you can't have the dirt but you can get rugs printed with roads on it instead.
Thank you :) I know the rugs you mean, I had one as a kid 😊
I live in an apartment with no back yard either, is there a local park near by? Most areas have them.
Yes we have lots of parks nearby but she can't go to the park by herself and I'm looking for ideas she can do on her own 😊
Perform a concert/play/dance for her stuffed amimals.
Finger knitting (that kept my girls entertained for hours).
Bead threading or jewellery making.
Play Hospitals.
Make a collage (or any other type of craft - added bonus being that it uses fine motor skills).
Scavenger hunt.
Sensory play - slime, play doh, shaving foam, kinetic sand or regular sand in a container etc.
Small Dinosaurs or small animals to make a "park" with.
Lego.
One of those styling heads to play hairdressers.
Masking tape on bedroom floor for hopscotch.
Thank you! She's never tried finger knitting before
My kids are 8 and 6 and they don't like playing alone either.
Sometimes I will play with them for a while and then tell them I need to do housework etc and usually they are enjoying it enough they will keep playing.
Yep tried that many times lol...so many times...
Yep tried that many times lol...so many times...
She may be suffering from anxiety so don’t be too hard on her or push her too much but you are doing great! Little steps and it all helps.