Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: play, toddler

This topic has 3 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 5 months ago by ruth.

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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January 1, 2011 at 12:11 am
dmccall3
Participant
Hi everyone!
I hate to keep asking so many questions but you are all so helpful and I’m sort of lacking support at the moment. 🙂
I have one DS who turns 3 in March. We hope for more children but it’s just him at this time. He is very attached to me and lately has been asking me to play with him a lot. I’m guessing his love language is quality time or it’s just natural for him to now want to play “with” instead of “beside”. We are moving so I don’t have a playgroup yet. I do plan to find one but I don’t think that would solve everything anyway.
I honestly don’t like to play. I’ve been told I don’t know how to have fun and I know I have a hard time relaxing but even outside that I just get bored after pushing Thomas around the track a couple of times. I grew up an only child and remember hearing, “Go entertain yourself” often and I cringe when I say something close to it.
So my question is – do you play with your kids? How often? Do you always enjoy it or do you “do it anyway”? I really do want to enjoy playing with him.
Thanks for your help!
Dana
January 1, 2011 at 12:52 am
Sonya Shafer
Moderator
Dana, this older discussion on Playing With Your Kids might give you some encouragement.
January 1, 2011 at 1:39 am
Canoearoo
Participant
I take my kids outside a lot. We hike canoe fish snow shoe sled ice fish bike ride; you get the picture. So they play with me in my hobbies. As for playing with toys I do that a little but not much. I’ll set up a camp sight in the living room and read books in there but I won’t play dolls
January 1, 2011 at 3:00 pm
ruth
Participant
I scanned the other discussion, but didn’t see my thoughts expressed there. I went through the same thing with my son.
In reading Raising Godly Tomatoea and Home Eduaction again (and at the same time so I don’t remember who said it) I was reminded to keep the children with me and include them in the activities of my life. I let them help me fold laundry, wash dishes, vacuum, cook, etc. I know a lot of us have the thinking of “just let me do it so it gets done” (me included), but having the children help teaches them the skills and discipline of working. If my son opts out then he knows he must play on his own because I am working. He usually stays nearby and either colors or plays cars or trains. If your son’s love language is quality time, then as long as you share your time like this he will feel loved.
I also think it is important to learn to entertain ourselves. I have a set time when I put the baby down for a nap and I get an hour of relaxation when my son must occupy himself.
When I am done with the chores then we usually go outside to play. I do spend some time in there activitieis, but usually only about half an hour to an hour. I prefer to read to them than play, so we do a lot of that.
HTH, Ruth