Do you sit and play with your LO

janine228 · January 2010

while they are playing, or do you let them play independently. I ususally sit with my DS. I'm actually pretty absessed eith it. I even harp on my DH about it. Sometimes he sits with him,but doesn't talk. I always try to engage DS while playing with the toys. My sister will walk out of the room for a decent amount of time. I will be on the phone with her and her him distant in the background. (she's in the kitchen where she can still see him). I just don't know if I'm too over the top or not.

brandonsfuturewife07 · January 2010

not always. sometimes he wants to be left alone, sometimes he wants to be engaged.

MEJ2008 · January 2010

Sometimes I'm playing with her, other times she wants to play independently. Both are important IMO.

Tess12 · January 2010

Madeleine sticks close to me while she's playing, but I can read a book or something. She'll interact periodically, usually handing me toys to hold, but I let her take the lead. I have a harder time doing housework or cooking. Then she demands my full attention. But as long as I stay in one spot, she will happily play at my feet.

BecauseICan · January 2010

I make a point to sit with her several times a day, yes. But esp. now that she's able to play independently, I definitely get things done while she's awake too. I usually sit with her in half-hour chunks, and then try to get things done in the rooms where she plays--laundry, cooking meals, cleaning the kitchen, etc. It doesn't hurt for her to have some alone time.

Skipperg82 · January 2010

If he's playing just fine on his own, I let him be. I think it's important as a parent to step back and let your kid learn to play independently. I am usually close by and he comes over when he needs me, then I usually sit on the floor with him for 15-20 minutes we read a book or I help him with his blocks or something like that and then I get up and let him play on his own.

I find that if I'm too involved we both get frustrated because he just wants to do his own thing, and I feel like I'm forcing him to do something I want to do, so I let him be.

Mrs.V · January 2010

I almost always do but DS isn't great at independent play. He normally demands that we sit with him! I try to leave him alone as well so he can learn to play more independently but this is still very rare! I do like to play with him and make sure that he's engaged and I especially enjoy reading books with him!

Ciconrad · January 2010

I think it's good to do both. If he's playing with a toy like his shape sorter or something where I can point out shapes, colors and numbers, I'll sit and interact with him. Other times, if he's just playing with some cars or his kitchen, I'll sit back (in the same room only because he climbs everything and I can't take my eyes off of him for more than 1 minute) and let him do his thing for awhile. A lot of times he is just playing along side of me while I do fold laundry or wash dishes an I just have a "conversation" with him as I go. I think playing with them ALL the time can become problematic but obviously you don't want to be the parent that just ignores their kid all day while you do your own thing.

exhausted_bride · January 2010

DS gets tons of independent play time. He gets bored with me after awhile. :-)

Trust me, he lets me know when he wants to play. But when I think about it, he's only awake 9 hours of the day. After meals, shopping, errands and our walks... there's only so many hours in the day, ya know? We try to keep busy.

betsnup · January 2010

Any time D wants to play alone, I let him have at it. He likes to have me near most of the time, so if I can get a minute or two of him playing by himself, I take advantage of it.

IckyThump · January 2010

I will sit and play with DS a few times a day. He's all over the place and mostly plays independently. He'll come over and bring me toys or books when he wants to play with me, so I pretty much leave it up to him.

eris1995 · January 2010

A little of both. There are times DS really wants me to play with him. There are other times he walks off and does his own thing.

Neukim · January 2010

a little of both. My Pedi says it's important for my ds to have his "me time" as well as time with us.

*blondiem* · January 2010

Independent play is important for young toddlers. You really should leave her alone to explore and discover away from your interaction.

mrsmatto · January 2010

*blondiem*:
Independent play is important for young toddlers. You really should leave her alone to explore and discover away from your interaction.

I agree with Blondie. It's very important that kids learn to play by themselves early. Otherwise, when they are 3 and up, they will demand every second of your time. You won't have time to do the laundry and you'll never have clean underwear again. Stick out tongue

VTbride05 · January 2010

I sit and play a lot. We read, put together puzzles, play with his farm or matchbox cars and I promote independent play too. He loves to play by himself and I think that it is important for him.

Bre92504 · January 2010

I like to do both during the day. I'll get down and play with him a lot but he's also really good at entertaining himself. I think it's important for him to learn independant play.

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