do you play with your kids?

I was just thinking about this today. While pg with my latest baby I was put on modified bedrest for a good chunk of the pg. It kind of limited me to reading books with the kids and simple play, up on the couch or whatever. I wasn't really crawling down on the floor with them anymore. Now that the baby is here for the first six weeks all I did was take care of her, so the kids kind of had to fend for themselves as far as playtime. Now that Julianna has settled into a really nice routine, she's napping like 2.5 hours every morning, I've found myself entering a new phase. My kids have been playing in their playroom by themselves really, really nicely lately. In fact when I go hang out with them for the whole naptime it seems like they get into more fights for some reason. So I've been kind of using that morning naptime for cleaning, a little exercise, getting a meal together...whatever...and popping in to check on the kids periodically. Is that a horrible thing?? It's just so foreign to me to have the kids finally playing on their own for hours at a time without me in the room for most of that time. I know when i was a kid my mom hardly ever played with us. And sometimes I saw that as a good thing b/c mom just didn't know how to play the "right" way! (LOL!) And other times I wished my mom would take more time to play with us. So how much do you play with your kids? I think I participate more when we are reading books or doing an arts/crafts thing or playing an actual game wtih my oldest. So it's mostly the imagination playtime I'm talking about....

 

Ummmm....I would die of happiness if my two kids woud just play by themselves. I swear they do not know how to. They either fight, whine, cry or hang on me nonstop. I am lucky if I get 10 minutes of them playing alone. I really think it is because they watch too much TV. There, I admit it. They watch a show in AM in one in PM, but sometimes more. I really need to cut it back a bit and maybe they will get better.

Any tips in getting them to play alone??

 

Great Topic!!


We go back and forth here. Some days I am very involved in their play and others we all do our own thing. But they love to help around the house so if Im doing housework which is alot they are right there helping... however with my new plan to get them involved in pre school like days at home they will be more involed with me and the activities i ahve planned for them.. But this will still include free play for them.

 

my opinion is everything in moderation. You are right that most of our moms didn't "play" with us. My mom certainly didn't. Anyway, I think it's perfectly fine that you are getting some stuff done if they happily play together. Just be sure to mix in time with them. Do they play well as a single? If yes, then that's a great opportunity to take one aside and spend a few quality moments with him/her. You are certainly challenged by having 3 under 3, so give yourself a break. Us moms put so much pressure on ourselves!

 

I play with them, but not constantly throughout the day. We will sometimes sit down and color, do a craft, play a game. Other times, they are perfectly content to play with each other. Those are the times that I get my stuff done. (Gotta love those nap times for the babies.....)

 

I try to play with them but I find they play better and longer if I don't interfere in their play. I'm still in the room with them but I do my own thing and they approach me periodically with books and toys.

 

I often get to do things like be the patient for my little doctors, but they will also play for lengthy periods just with each other. Since I treasure the memories I have of playing like that with my sister, I generally leave them to it. We do have story time and board games and things like that where I am more directly involved (although they prefer DS2's company for board games!). Both also have their solitary pursuits where their interests don't converge. I think as long as there is a nice mix, it is fine. I have my own solitary pursuits and don't mind a bit if they can play dollhouse without me.

 

Yes, I do, but not all the time. I think it's important for kids to learn to play by themselves and entertain themselves. So I play with them some and then leave them to play with each other. Although they are not quite playing yet, but they do find things to occupy them when I am not playing with them.

 

Mine actually play together really well (they love to play with people in our little house and to drive their combines and trucks and tractors everywhere). So, when they are playing nice I do "my" stuff, laundry, read TS, clean, cook, etc. When a fight erupts I spend time with them reading or coloring or building blocks, or doing puzzles, or having them help me clean or do laundry. They spend much more time alone, with each other, than playing with me. I love it!

 

I have been thinking about this lately too and feeling guilty that I don't play with them enough. However, I think my interaction with them is pretty typical of a lot of the other posters. We do coloring, painting, puzzles, reading, blocks, etc. together and they do more of the imaginative play by themselves or together. I'm almost always in the room with them though, just doing my own thing. They do also include me periodically, by bringing me tea, etc. Like others have said, as long as there's a good balance, I'm sure we're doing fine. I do love and appreciate that they play independtly so well though!

 

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. I DO PLAY WITH MY KIDS BUT THATS ONLY BECAUSE I WK FT.
MY MOM SAYS THEY WONT PLAY BY THEMSELVES..

SOME DAYS ARE EASIER THAN OTHERS..
I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF CONSTANTLY THAT ITS NOT THEIR FAULT THAT I HATE THE FEEL OF PLAYDOUGH..

I PREFER TO READ TO THEM, AND HELP THEM BRUSH THEIR TEETH BUT PRETEND? EH NOT MY THING.. IM SUCH A REALIST... I NEED TO WK ON IT
M

 

QUOTE(Erykah @ Jan 30 2008, 10:58 AM) [snapback]597286[/snapback]
I try to play with them but I find they play better and longer if I don't interfere in their play. I'm still in the room with them but I do my own thing and they approach me periodically with books and toys.


This is very much how it is around here. They just do their thing and once in a while they will think to include me. I love to watch them play.

 

okay good, you're all making me feel better. After having to say "mommy's busy" or "mommy can't do that" so many times during pg and early infancy I was feeling guilty that i wasn't spending EVERY spare moment playing with them. But like some of the other posters here, honestly they seem like they play better without me!! And they are at those ages where they get into small squabbles that drive me nuts when I'm in the room, but actually get worked out amongst themselves better when I'm not there to act as "judge." (When I'm around they constantly want me to mediate between them. when I'm not there they just sort it out themselves.)

 

Mine play by themselves better than before, but we're only up to about 2-5 minutes if I am in the room. Hence, maybe I get the bed made???

I can leave them alone in a room for about 30 minutes, but they ALWYAS find something to destroy no matter how good I am at clearing the room of dangerous stuff. They are like rats - they seem to sniff out trouble. I do leave them at the YMCA daycare 3 times a week for 90 minutes where they play a lot by themselves and are great at it. (I watch them after I drop them off and before I pick them up. It's cool!)

So basically we are working on it better at home. Early intervention said all kids need to play alone for a bit.

 

Sometimes I feel the same way. I'm a single Mom and work full time. If the kiddos wake early - I get 1/2 hour with them in the am before getting ready for work. In the evenings - I cook dinner, feed them, bathe them every other eve, pj's, brush teeth and bed. It seems like sometimes I'm never "playing" with them - and pushing bedtime back is not an option as they go down great (knock on wood). The older they get though, it seems the more I CAN interact with them - just last night I had a blast - they are starting to climb on EVERYTHING - so I take the cushions off the love seat to make it climbable for them and they just love it. then I pretend I'm "going to get them" and they laugh and squeal with delight - it's the best sound in the world for me - my children's laughter. I know it's cliche - but I've read that it's quality time you spend - not quantity. Your a good Mom and doing the absolute best you can right now.

 

Moreso just the two of them when it's their toys, but it's because of the way they play. But I do dance with them, do crafts, active games like hide and seek, on playground epuipment, etc.

 

me too!

 

Like pp said, it depends on the day. They tend to play better when I'm not there. ardon: And they play really well with eachother {for the most part} so I try and play with them for a little, and then do my own thing...going back and forth. I want them to be able to play alone as well as with me. I still feel guilty if they are playing by themselves, I don't know why and when that will end, if ever, but I'm just going with the flow for now.

 

I play with them off and on all day long. Since they are gross motor delayed a lot of our play involves the fun "exercises" ECI has taught us, but I also play with toys with them, read to them, cuddle (when they let me, LOL), and tickle & chase. I have no problem with them playing by themselves, and really they have to when I'm cooking. I thnk they have to be independent to a certain extent. Rationally, I know this, but why do I STILL feel guilty??? Mommy guilt is crazy sometimes!

 

Im playing all of the time. It's because I run a daycare in my home. So, I am down there with all of the kids that come to my house. My boys get really jealous when I am playing with other kids though. It's as if they are saying "That's my momma". It's quite cute, but can get a little frustrating. Like some of the pps, my boys tend to fight a lot when playing, but they always play in the same room. It's like they can't leave each other and play in another room.

 

Pretty much ditto! My two can entertain themselves, whether alone or playing together, pretty well. I do play with them some but they are not dependent on me to play. I love that there are two of them.

QUOTE(HRE @ Jan 30 2008, 01:35 PM) [snapback]597357[/snapback]
Mine actually play together really well (they love to play with people in our little house and to drive their combines and trucks and tractors everywhere). So, when they are playing nice I do "my" stuff, laundry, read TS, clean, cook, etc. When a fight erupts I spend time with them reading or coloring or building blocks, or doing puzzles, or having them help me clean or do laundry. They spend much more time alone, with each other, than playing with me. I love it!

 

QUOTE(HRE @ Jan 30 2008, 02:35 PM) [snapback]597357[/snapback]
Mine actually play together really well (they love to play with people in our little house and to drive their combines and trucks and tractors everywhere). So, when they are playing nice I do "my" stuff, laundry, read TS, clean, cook, etc. When a fight erupts I spend time with them reading or coloring or building blocks, or doing puzzles, or having them help me clean or do laundry. They spend much more time alone, with each other, than playing with me. I love it!

EXACTLY the same here

 

I am soooo jealous!!!!