XP - How often do you PLAY with your kids?

Re: XP - How often do you PLAY with your kids?

• Mrs.Saxy member

  November 2011

  can you wear your baby?  

  I've played hungry hippos, candyland, and the fishing game (you know the old school one with the magnets and the fish's mouths open and close and you try to get them on the hooks.)

  put the kiddo on the computer and have him explore starfall.com

  when DS2 was super little we'd just go outside and DS1 would play in his sandbox or ride his bike up and down our driveway.

  you can also fingerpaint, watercolor, regular color, draw, have him trace shapes that you draw, or trace his name. 

  
  
  
  
  Join our wiki and tell us what your baby eats for finger foods.

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• zoe_cat

  November 2011

  I can totally relate.  My first DD does not play independently...at all.  She always needs me to be playing with her.  I try suggesting things like reading together, coloring, playing games, etc., but mostly she wants to do pretend play that involves running all around the house.  I have a three month old that doesn't want to be put down, so this can be a bit difficult.  So...for at least one of the baby's naps (only 40 minutes each) each day I make sure to devote my full attention to DD and play whatever it is she wants to do.  For the few moments that I can put the baby down, I also try to do things with DD or I suggest things that we can do while I where the baby in the Moby (like walking to the park, although it's getting a bit cold for that now).  But honestly there is a lot of times where I can't pay attention to her the way I would like and she is on the iPad doing educational apps or watching videos more than I would like.  I have found it really difficult to balance the needs of my two LOs and give them each the attention that they need, but I figure it has to get easier as the baby grows up, at least I hope!
  

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• Spin313 member

  November 2011

  Similar situation here, except that my DD is almost 8 months now. When it was just me and DS, we were out all the time and we played together frequently. Since DD, he does play more on his own and watches more tv. We still go out and have play dates and do the same things we used to now that DD is a little older, but when we're in the house all day I admit that I get bored of playing picnic and repair shop, or whatever game DS has invented. I am looking forward to new toys at Christmas time...plus we're moving soon and DS loves just running around the new house and hiding in the closets, etc, so that will help keep him entertained independently.

  
  
  
  

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• Jen&Len

  November 2011

  I don't actually play with the kids all that much.  I work and by the time I get home, it's time to get dinner started and then it's bedtime for them.  I'll read a book to them and do some bedtime snuggles.  DS actually gets annoyed when I play with him because I mess up the order of his trains or cars or what not.  I'll try to move the trains and make choo choo noises and he puts them back where they were before I touched them!!!  And DD is Miss Independent...she won't even let me read a book to her.  She screams in protest if I even reach out to turn the page. 

   They play a lot with each other, which helps a lot.  It started when she was around 1, so they keep each other company.
  

  

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• cecee36

  November 2011

  We only have one daughter and she's 4.  She can be wishy-washy sometimes so I play with her whenever she wants me to.  I'll suggest things for us to do together like play a board game or do things on the computer or go outside and most times she's up for it; however, there are times when she says "This is NOT for you, Mommy.  I want to do this by myself."  And I happily let her...like you said, there's only so much you can take before wanting to claw your eyes out!  Usually when I play with her the time varies but it's never for hours and hours on end.  If we go outside, it's typically longer because we're riding bikes or kicking balls and I like to keep her moving but inside activities are only about 20 minutes or so.  

  

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