getting down with the kids
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14773
Printed Date: 12 October 2025 at 8:48pm
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Topic: getting down with the kids
Posted By: Bombshell
Subject: getting down with the kids
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 1:36pm
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i was thinking about this last week and then again yesterday at a party....how many other parents get down (as in right onto) on the floor with your kids?
It seems everywhere I go I am the only parent who is sitting on the floor playing, or interacting - esp at daycare both morning and night across all age groups, and at coffee groups and parties etc....I mean at DC the other day i had five kids piled onto me to read a story....never seen any of the parents do that there before but a bubba (not mine) bought me a book to read them..... Am i weird to think that getting down onto the floor and interacting with your children is just not the "done" thing anymore? Is it too embarassing, or dirty or ??????? what do you guys do.... |
Replies:
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 1:39pm
I used to before I got pregnant again. When I was hanging out at WAU at the hospital waiting for my friend to be induced I kept the gremlins entertained by crawling up and down the hallway with them  Now I am the complete opposite, mainly coz I have next to no energy.-------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: james
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 1:41pm
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yep loveplayingonthe floor with the boys and i dont relly care were we are also wrestling with the boys toooand i,m always the one who gets hurt ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 1:41pm
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It feels like at the moment I am always on the floor playing with Ella....and when DH is home he always join me. I know that Ella loves it when I am rolling around on the floor and crawling around chasing after her and she gets so much out of the interaction as well.
I haven't really through too much about it, just considered it was the norm.....maybe it isn't????????? ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: Jay_R
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 1:45pm
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I'm with you BS - I'm a down on the floor mummy too. It's something I've noticed quite a bit at daycare. When I drop Joshua off in the morning I stay for at least 15mins and get him settled, read a story etc etc. All the other parents seem to do the old "drop and run".
Keep doing the good stuff BS - it is definitely the best way to be
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 1:45pm
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I do when I'm at home, but if we are at playgroup or party or something, then I take that as a bit of time for myself. And time for Hannah to play with other kids. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 1:47pm
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Yeah we get on the floor as well. Maybe some people feel self conscious in public? ------------- 
 
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Posted By: Shorty
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 2:04pm
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I am a get down and dirty mummy!
I am always on the floor playing with the kids...but I am also one to sit and eat my food on the floor with the kids too 
I am the same as you Clare and spend about 10-15 (or whatver it takes) to settle DS in at Daycare. It is so much better for them....and us 
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Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 2:09pm
Yep I get down on the floor too (although getting a bit hard to get back up now!). I think kids grow up way too fast to be self concious about what others think. The only other person who I care about what they think is Ollie  ------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2 |
Posted By: AliaDawn
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 2:14pm
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I will happily play on the floor with Seb... or sit on the floor. If I'm tired in the middle of the shopping mall and all the seats are taken, I'll sit down and have a rest against a wall. I've never really worried about self image though I think alot of people might just be self-conscious and behave differently in public than in private? -------------  
 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 2:15pm
I'm a bit like that too, when we're out with other kids I'm just like "get away from me and go and play!" ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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aimeejoy wrote:Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 2:16pm
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Yep I so get down with Isla all the time,..just this morning I was stuff in her play tunnel! lol! Glad no one else was around to witness that!
But in public its the same. Bombshell and Maya can both testify to that! The first time we met at Botany, I spent most of time ignoring the adults and playingg with Isla and the gremlins on the floor! |
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 2:18pm
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I love playing around on the floor, have no problem with it, but like Aimee when we are at play group I will often step back and give her the opportunity to play independently with other kids, which I think is just as important. It is also a good time for me to have a break after being with her 24/7 and talk to some other mums.
Funny about the 'drop and run' comment with creche - our creche encourages parents to make the drop off fairly swift, sign in and settle them down with an activity but then don't draw out the goodbye or stick around for too long as it is actually harder for the kids. So I definitely don't hang about for 15 minutes - if I'm going to spend time with her playing at creche it's usually at the end of the day when I pick her up and we do a bit of exploring and talking about her day. Different kids/parents suit different approaches I guess, we all do whatever works for us. And hey - if someone else is already down there reading a book to DD and she's happy, I'm always going to take that opportunity for five minutes to have a cup of tea with adults or grab something to eat without her trying to snaffle it! ------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Posted By: FionaS
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 2:32pm
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Definately on the floor lots here. We play and chat and tumble around daily. We love to roll / crawl around together...so much laughter!! ------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 2:41pm
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I'm always playing with Michaela (or playing with her toys next to her), same at the park I'm forever on the play equipment racing her down the slide or swinging with her - I'm just a big kid really.
I was really surprised when I went to toddler day at the local pool to find despite there being about 20 kids and only one lifeguard (who was busy reading stories and filling the bubble machine) I was the only mum in the pool and most were talking to each other not watching their kids - that shocked me completely since, even in a shallow pool, I don't feel comfortable leaving my child. ------------- http://lilypie.com">   http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 2:42pm
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hehehe - if i hadnt been so pregnant you prob would have seen me on the floor too BS. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 2:50pm
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We are always on the floor here too. Its great fun and ever since Alize was a few weeks old we have had set floor time everyday. This consists of the wlhole family being on the floor playing together. Heaps of fun!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: newmum
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 7:54pm
This is me too!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 7:59pm
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LOL I thought of this thread this afternoon when I was down on the floor reading books to the gremlins and trying to stop Sienna whacking Mercedes on the head. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 8:00pm
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Yep I usually am too, but it does also depend on the situation. If its at a party were Andrew is with his friends then i'm happy to leave him be and me to do my thing. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 10:11pm
and me... however, at home I do loan my body out as a playgym... ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 10:13pm
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you preggie ones are forgiven!!! LOL!!!
it is weird - I just seem to see these really alloof looking parents at parks, malls, DC etc etc and it made me wonder.....and yeah I know I am a big kid really! |
Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 10:16pm
Yeah I LOVE playing with Gina and still get on the floor but find it much less comfy than I used to. I def wish I could do more with her but belly is getting in the way now  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 25 February 2008 at 10:24pm
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When I was preg I would just lie on the floor to play cos it was way easier than standing up games lol. Now he doesn't really play on the floor all the time but we sit at the table drawing or on the floor with blocks.
Playcentre is Jacks go crazy time and hes way to busy on the playground. I have noticed there that most of the other babies get kept in their prams/carseats and out in the office alone whether they are awake or asleep. Theres one baby a wee bit younger than Caprece and she spends the whole time in her pram with a dummy in, when she cries someone pushes her. It makes me sad I want to ask if she can come and play on the floor with me and Caprece but I'm to scared to ask her mum. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 26 February 2008 at 8:29pm
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On the floor here. When I read a story I get the couch for a treat! It's just so much easier to handle puzzles, books etc when kids don't have to balance them on their knees or drop bits off the edge. ------------- |
Posted By: BabyOnBoard
Date Posted: 26 February 2008 at 8:49pm
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I love getting on the floor with Arabella - or any kids! seeing everythingthing from their perspective lol ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 26 February 2008 at 8:51pm
What I don't love about floor play is seeing up close all the hair I lose daily and dog/cat hair and squised in food.... lol, not that I live in a tip, but I don't vaccuum daily... ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 26 February 2008 at 10:12pm
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lol or whee your child picks up food from the flooor - inspects it and then eats it...OMG i have been teaching Ella the "ta" for yucky food game....gross!!! bad bad housewife!!!
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 26 February 2008 at 10:17pm
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Yeah thats the downside to the crawling stage, the gross things they manage to pick up and eat ...I'm very cautious when it comes to putting lucas down on any floors OTHER THAN our place & families ...our carpet here hasn't been cleaned in 20 years and I only let him on it before his bath ... Otherwise he has several carpeted car/ABC mats (good old Spotlight) that I spread out all over the room! Cheaper than carpet cleaning ...we are living with my parents for the time being so ...
------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 26 February 2008 at 10:20pm
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Oh & I basically LIVE on the floor with Lucas ...although lately we have been spending more & more time outside on the grass. He LOVES being outside amongst nature, so much stimulation with cars, planes, trees, grass ...our cats etc etc. ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 26 February 2008 at 10:50pm
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haha, it's funny that you started this topic BS. I was just commenting to Dh that maybe we should sell the couch as we both spend all our time on the floor when Sam is up now
BTW, the doctor at starship we saw last week said that they live by the 3 second rule in their house. If something is on the floor less than 3 seconds it is too quick to get germs and can go back in the mouth - I am thinking somebody already told Samantha about that rule ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 8:25am
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Apparently nowadays our immune systems aren't all that great because their under worked. There was a study recently that showed farmers are less likely to suffer from serious diseases (like cancer) because they spend their entire lives around all sorts of bacteria so they have really good immune systems.
So when Michaela finds something on the floor becuase I missed it vacuuming or haven't vacuumed for a couple of days I don't feel bad about it, I'm just being a good mummy and giving her immune system a boost ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 8:31am
| DH and I would often sit on the floor even before Tom came along and DH still does. I might "retire" to the couch after dinner and watch TV from there but DH will lie on the floor and often I end up joining him. It was horrible when I was pregnant and couldnt lie on my tummy |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 8:39am
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sorry i dont have time to read everything...but i used to work at preschool and some parents would read books..but i really cant remember the last time i saw one get on the floor to play... I did it all day...but only half the teachers at every place I've worked did it as well.. it's one of the most important things we can do...but yeah most parents I observed didnt..:( ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 8:40am
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i just saw the reply at the top about the time out thing..i guess that makes sense..never thought about it that way. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Bubbaloo
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 9:35am
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Me and Jesse both spend time on the floor with James but he doesn't stay there for very long now so once you sit down and start doing something he is of in a few minutes.
At daycare there is always a few mums sitting down with the kids when it is story time it's funny when I go and pick James up all the other kids come running to me and want hugs and James runs away ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08 |
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 12:48pm
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I've always got on the floor with Caitlyn , when she was crawling i liked to see things from her level
now we play lego and Barbies, barbies is fascinating stuff atm , Sarah (blonde barbie) and Jessie (brunette barbie) both love Cory (aka Ken) and want to marry him , but he can only choose one! *gasp* who will it be?? stay tuned till tonight to find out! dum dum duuuuuuummmmm |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 1:01pm
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danni that's normal..happens a lot:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 5:44pm
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I'm a primary school teacher and took half my lessons on the mat, so i am well used to sitting ont he floor with monster.
At coffee group I will do a bit of both - some playing on the floor, some sitting ont he couch chatting while Lily roams around squashing the other bubbas. -------------  
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Posted By: Alisa
Date Posted: 27 February 2008 at 10:20pm
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I try and hang out on the floor as much as I can with Sam, I've had knee surgery and I can't properly kneal (sp) on the floor with that knee so I end up lying on the floor playing but it can be bit of a mission getting back up haa haa haaa ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/"> 
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Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 28 February 2008 at 9:26am
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I get down on the floor with them alot of the time, even if i'm not directly involved in their games, I tend to end up being the chief barbie-dresser, polly-pocket-dresser, or whatever else. I always have, i love sitting down with them. and i so know what you mean i used to find that when i went to feed ayja at break times at daycare that there are some parents who act like they're allergic to their own kids let alone if another kid comes up to them they just ignore them. I used to end up with all sorts of babies sitting up on the couch with me while i was feeding ayja sometimes, they'd read me stories. lol ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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