Do you sit and Play with your kids?
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Forum Name: General Chat
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Topic: Do you sit and Play with your kids?
Posted By: Snappy
Subject: Do you sit and Play with your kids?
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 1:08pm
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I just wondered whether I am the only mother on earth that sits and plays with the kids?
I was speaking to a friend yesterday and I told her I had to go and Janaya was wanting to play a game while Jackson was asleep, and she said "Do you play with her?" I said "Yeah?" she said "Oh mine just goes in the room and plays Barbies!" I am always hearing about parents who are able to sit and watch a full length movie during the day or Oprah while the kids entertain themselves, is this the norm? I sometimes wonder whether I am doing something wrong, Jackson never sits and plays on his own, ever! |
Replies:
Posted By: xLUCKYx
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 1:22pm
I sit and play with the kids quite a lot - I find it heaps of fun. But they do often play by themselves as well, however this is usually after I have got something out for them and sparked their interest. They rarely go off and find something (apart fromo trouble  )
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 1:44pm
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I sit and play with mine. Spencer is very good at playing on his own though and quite often when I sit down to play with him I am just a spectator, but he does like me there and like's to tell me what he is doing etc. Drawing and other arts and crafts he lets me get a bit more involved. He will often bring me books to read him as well. Kyle will play on his own if I am near by but I can't leave him in the lounge and go to the kitchen without him following me crying (our kitchen and lounge is open plan), I think he is going through a clingy phase though, or at least I hope he is and he won't be like that forever.
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 1:49pm
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I often sit and play with them, or they play alongside me while I do jobs etc ("helping" me). Otherwise I set them up with something fun, playdough, sandpit, etc. which occupies them for a while. But generally they need some entertaining, rarely Chloe will go off and have a play with dolls or something on her own. Ollie will usually sit next to the toybox and have a little play for ten-twenty mins if he is fed, not tired and in the right mood. Lol. ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 1:52pm
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E is just starting to entertain himself.. and even while watching tv I'm in the room and we read books and stuff..sadly a lot of parents dont play with kids :( which is sad.. i still do some jobs like dishes when E is asleep as his 'helping' is more of a pain:) but it's starting to get where i leave him to do things:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 1:59pm
I do most of the time, although sometimes when the girls are playing really well together I like to leave them to it when they're clearly happy in each others company. Occassionally I listen in to Alyssa telling Kayla what to do like she's the mummy which is very cute 
Luckily for me, I am able to spend a lot of time online in blocks of time here and there (which I need to do, for work) because my mum takes Alyssa most days for a few hours and Kayla naps. |
Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 2:08pm
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Caleb often wants me to play with him but once I give him a lot of attention for an extended period of time then he is quite happy to run off and play and entertains himself really well. If he wants attention and I'm busy he is a pain until I give him my focus though. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 2:15pm
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yea totally. my baby isnt allowed near tv or anything though so i sit on the floor and play / read stories and everything else. we also have paydough, pens and paper, puzzles etc... for the older kids (family i used to look after) baby will play on his own while i cook food / do washing / study etc...i want to make sure he doesnt need constant attention but i dont do it for long periods at a time and i certainly wouldnt watch tv or anything while he is out of bed. i have family who dont play with their kids at all and i just dont get it aye. mack is only 8 months old and we go on a family outing every weekend too ie. muesem, swimming, pool, zoo etc.. we have a rule in our house that we do something as a family every weekend. i do know heaps and heaps of ppl who dont hang out with their kids though. ------------- 
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 2:17pm
Sometimes I even wonder if my girls know how to play on their own I do sit and play with them most of the time. Occasionally if I need a break I will set up an activity and then leave them to it, although most of the time the are over it within minutes and wanting me to join back in.
The girls do occasionally play on their own or together, usually when they are supposed to be doing something else. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 2:18pm
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a bit of both here - i spend a lot of time playing with the kida but jack likes being independent too - he comes and tells me if i'm allowed to join in.
sorry one handed typing = baby feeding! |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 2:22pm
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Jake likes to have someone to play with him...all the time. taine however prefers you butt out. When he is playing Thomas or Cars, if I try and join in i get told "stop it right now Mummy".
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Posted By: Chickoin
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 2:25pm
About 50/50 here, Jody will play on her own and half the time I will play with her. I like her to be able to entertain herself, but I also love joining in the fun  -------------   
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Posted By: rachelsea
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 2:59pm
50/50 here too. Chelsea started crawling on xmas eve and loves exploring. Most of the time if I pick her up and try give her cuddles and play with her she tries to escape and get back to her exploring, lol but then other times she'll humour me and let me play with her  ------------- DD 4yrs DS 2yrs http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 3:06pm
About 50/50 here too. Eg most mornings I leave C to it with a different bucket of toys each day while I have a cup of tea and catch up on emails and FB. Now that he's mobile and active he's quite into exploring (and destroying) things without my input. That said, he is really into pushing his car/walker thing around at the mo and keeps getting frustrated when it hits a wall so I have had to help out lots so far this morning! 
We read loads of stories and sing songs/play with musical instruments, roll balls or cars around etc etc etc, but I love giving C the space to work things out for himself as well. I think it's pretty fluid depending on their ages too, some weeks C needs/wants lots of interaction. Others he can entertain himself for an hour while I get chores or something done! ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: FreeSpirit
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 3:18pm
| *is drying between her toes and trying to look for dry clothes for E* yep, we just finished waterplay in the paddling pool. I tend to do "guided" play (where she and I will sit and do an activity together) at least once a day, free play where she can do whatever she wants and lead me in the game, and she also has independant play where she'll go and paly happily by herself. |
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 3:36pm
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I almost feel like I'm not allowed to do anything else but join in the play. She either likes me to interact with her or at least be sitting close by. Most days she has quiet time for approx 1.5/2 hours in her room and most of the time plays happily in there by herself.
If I'm doing chores or trying to do something she plays up ans is naughty to get attention (grr). Hoping the sibling might change this a bit once it is old enough to "play" too. ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 3:53pm
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I never play with the kids. we dont do outings every weekend either, sometimes we sit at home and do nothing... Yesterday they were on the playstation ALL day! they watch tv i sit on the computer. at this very minute eden is dragging the little people castle around the house, now shes getting the people!
------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 4:00pm
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I play with Milla quite a bit, but Im usually just cleaning up after her as she loves pulling all the pots , pegs, clothes, cups, toys out of what ever they are in .
She makes me go 'nonise' with her dolls in her wendy house and then just potters around me. She is really into books and music so active playing with her is usually that. Sometimes I cant be bothered and leave her to it but I have learnt quite quickly that if she is playing quietly she usually up to mischief ------------- http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
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Posted By: RoSee
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 4:22pm
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About 50/50 here too... I think it's important to play with DS so I can show him how to do things and spend quality time with him but I feel it's equally as important for him to learn to use his imagination and be independent and play on his own ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
 September '11
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Posted By: BeLoved
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 4:25pm
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Its 50/50 here as well. H is very independent and will happily play on her own, but then likes it when I play too. At the moment her favourite thing to do with me is climb all over me like a jungle gym and gives me loud "MUAH" kisses, very cute.
H also likes to watch a bit of TV and I am so over feeling guilty about it, she enjoys a half hour of a singing DVD or an episode of Hairy Maclary and it gives me time out to get something done. I must admit I love playing with her and building towers, colouring in (H just tries to eat the crayons) and playing pretend, I cannot wait to build huts and have tea parties, hopefully she still wants me to join in then. |
Posted By: ooEvaoo
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 4:26pm
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Ummm probably around a third of the time I'll play with Kahtrell...Most of the time he hangs around to see what I'm doing..helps with dishes and washing lol...hangs around the comp when I'm on. When we're outside he'll ride around on his bike or play with the dog. He's quite independent in his play, but will happily play with me or DP if we join in with him...sometimes it's nice having your lap child free!...at this very moment Kahtrell is sitting in my lap lol. ------------- 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 4:40pm
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About 50/50. Daniel loves just going outside and roaming around our yard exploring by himself but will come inside and talk to me about what hes doing or if I'm working outside he will do that then also
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Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 7:06pm
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Well i would play with dd if she would sit still for 1 minute. But no she is on the move 24/7.
DP on the other hand can play with her for ages, she loves playing with him after work. I think thats when she finally gets tired on roaming the house all day. We do play in the paddling pool together for ages, also if we throw the ball she will play but thats about it. I will be doing alot more with her when she is walking and by then i hope she will be happy to let me play. My friend has a 3 year old, they spend all day together doing things. -------------  
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 19 January 2010 at 11:21pm
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If I try to play barbies with C, she wont let me play with the Ken with blonde hair , and she "speaks" for me .;
So no, not much . I like the Ken with brown hair better , the blonde haired Ken has a missing leg . ------------- 
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Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 20 January 2010 at 10:51am
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I dont really play with josh much in the mornings he normally asks me to put on one of his dvds and comes to show me or tell me about something every now and then so i catch up on here and shower. If its nice i just have the doors open and he probably spends more time outside exploring and entertaining himself and just comes in if he wants something. I just check on him from time to time to make sure he isnt flooding the tunnel house again. If he starts getting intentionally naughty i know he is getting tired and he has his sleep. The only time he seems to demand my attention and want me to play is when im getting tea ready. I have to play with him more in winter tho if he is stuck inside but im trying to encourage more of the independant play its got to be good for the imagination and it will help a lot when the new baby arrives. I have built up a lot of indoor things to do now tho like paints and colouring books and playdough for this coming winter -------------   
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 20 January 2010 at 2:52pm
| When mine were younger I played with them more, now they are pretty good at playing on their own. Caprece likes to just follow me around and be close but she doesn't play games with me for long. she prefers to play next to me. I set things up for Jack but he doesn't last long either before he gets bored and finds something else to do. My two spend a lot of time outside with my parents on the weekend helping them garden and stuff. |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 20 January 2010 at 3:22pm
Im probably about 70% of the time with Jackson. The 30% is when I need to get things done while he's awake ie dinner, laundry etc. But for the most part I am with him on the floor or reading to him or chatting etc. I cant wait for him to be at the really playful age with colouring in and playdoe etc  ------------- Our Angel July 08 Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 20 January 2010 at 3:26pm
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LOL, I play with JJ (tbh, a little less than half the time, he is very independent), but sit? Never Really hoping he'll be a bit more content to stay in one place by the time his sibling arrives! ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 20 January 2010 at 5:08pm
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Hmm 50/50 most days... I sit with him and sing and dance and read stories but I think independant play is very important.
Besides, he gets bored of me very easily LOL New toy now please mummy, had enough of you! -------------   
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Posted By: Twinboys2b
Date Posted: 20 January 2010 at 7:52pm
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Gosh, it's so interesting to read what others do. I also think it's age based, my boys from about 7/8months - 1year could easily play by themselves for 1/3 of their awake time and otherwise I'm always on the floor or outside playing with them.
Now they're more neady of my attention so I spend 3/4 of awake time with them playing and 1/4 on their own. ------------- 3yr old gorgeous ID twin boys. |
Posted By: Manda08
Date Posted: 20 January 2010 at 9:10pm
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I play with DS as much as i can, in the mornings before work he sits and dances to Hi-5, then plays with his toys, after work we get home and play together at night for a while, we also sit and sing row row row your boat a lot, and play peek a boo... he is a real music baby so we also like to find as many things as we can that make different noises and we can dance to. haha. He is with my step mum Weds and Thurs and she plays with him ALL day! He also loves to watch what im doing, watching me prepare dinner lately is his favourite thing... ------------- 
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Posted By: lisa85
Date Posted: 21 January 2010 at 7:58am
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50/50 here as well obviously I have two and they play together really well. These days I actually find they get bored of me really quickly but they never get sick of each other. -------------  
TTC #3 since Jan 2010 - PCOS MC April 2010 |
Posted By: Phat_Cat
Date Posted: 21 January 2010 at 12:49pm
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yeah about 50/50 here as the boys play together now rylans on the move but I do some one on one activities when rylan is alseep - today we did some more grown up puzzles. Tristen likes to "help" me do dinner & cooking & he likes to dry the plastic dishes. other times the doors are always open so the boys can wander in & out at their own pleasure i just supervise down by the sandpit & paddling pool so that mischief & fighting can be kept to a minimum lol ------------- Tristen - 24/06/07 Rylan - 11/12/08 Angel Babies -14/08/05 & 21/01/2010 Curtis - 26/02/12 |
Posted By: Jay_R
Date Posted: 21 January 2010 at 3:51pm
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I would say about 50/50 here too during the week, although on weekends it would be more 90/10 that we are specifically doing things together. Games are a favourite thing at the moment. Any kind - dress up, board games, card games or hide and seek sort of stuff. Wednesdays are our day to do things as its my day off so its gym class, swimming and usually a playdate as well.
In the evenings I pretty much always put on a dvd or let him watch playhouse disney while I'm making dinner, and I usually take the opportunity to sit and have a glass of wine as well. |
Posted By: Shelt
Date Posted: 22 January 2010 at 12:11pm
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Its really interesting to see what everyone else does coz I was wondering about this a couple of weeks ago.
I play with Gabrielle as much as I can round work and chores etc at home (I am a single mum and work 30 hours a week). But she is also really good at sitting with the pegs and playing while I hang the washing out, or will occupy herself with pulling the books off the shelves and 'reading' to herself or roaming from room to room (I keep a few toys in every room). I guess it would probably be around 50/50 but even when we do play 'together' it is more me sitting next to her and her happily occupying herself while we play with seperate toys. I like playing with her toys - she has some cool stuff ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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