How often do you play?

[MumofBean]

How often do you play with your children?

Our child is 4 and I work full-time. By the time I am finished, organise dinner and bath I am exhausted.

I feel I don’t play enough and wondered how often every one else plays with their children? I try and do atleast 30 mins in an evening and obviously more at the weekends

[MoHunter]

Oh dear. I have a 3 y.o. and a nearly 1 y.o. and I work from home, 3 y.o. goes to preschool three mornings a week. On preschool days I do most of my work and only get to play “properly” with them between lunch and afternoon nap time - maybe half an hour to one hour, sometimes a bit more in the evening if there’s time after dinner/before bedtime (rarely). Otherwise I tend to “start them off” with an activity or find them toys/items to play with and explore for example while I cook, work etc. Working from home of course I do short play bursts “in between” stuff so it’s a bit hard to quantify.
Non-school days we go to a playgroup and one morning I usually take them out somewhere (park, softplay, shopping etc). I do feel I don’t play with them as much as maybe I should, but things are just too busy most days and it’s much easier (and less messy) to just take them for a walk or something.

I think as long as you spend some time playing with them surely that has to suffice - having meals together, walking and reading bedtime stories/singing are just as important IMO!