TOO MUCH TV - I AM STUCK IN A RUT-NEED HELP

[Mandymoo]

Hi
DD is 2.6 yrs and although i work part time had have done so since she was 3 mths, she is quite clingy at the moment (she has also gone to nursey for the past 14 months. When we are at home i find it very difficult tp just sit and play with her. I am ashamed to say this because it seems like such a simple thing to do but i keep thinking of all the other jobs I could be doing and after a few mins I end up saying things like "mummy's just gonna put the washing out and then i'll come back to play".

My problem is that when i need to get jobs done, DD wont play by herself. She'll turn tv on and just sit and watch it. I am ashamed to say that I have allowed this to continue as i know i will get some time to get things done. I need to get us both out of this habit, get some ideas for playing together and also get her to play on her own.

Am i expecting too much of her?

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated XX

[Frizbe]

Make your own obsticle (SP) course, involving jumps (off sofa?) Tunnels (clothes dryer) somersaults etc, add in things to collect along the way and you can take it round the house, great for a rainy day.

[marne]

Hi, i also work part time and my dd is 17 months, she spends most of the day glued to the TV, she does play with her toys at the same time, she sits so close to the tv im worried it will harm her eyes. It does seem a easy way to keep them out of the way when you are busy. I do play with her as much as i can(have to turn tv off first)but when im tierd or if she is in a unsetled mood i just let her wach tv.
Are we bad mummies for doing this?

[Mandymoo]

MArne, I feel like a bad mummy but sometimes i just have to get things done. I feel more of a bad mummy for finding it a chore to just sit and play with my own daughter.

[marne]

I find it easier to play with her if i take her out to a toddler group or play centre. Somtimes i think i spend too much time on the pc when i should be playing with my dd. we play ball and drawing etc...

[Mandymoo]

I take DD to groups but when we're there she leads me by the hand everywhere and wont go off on her own. So i make the most of the time there and we do craft things and soft play etc. I just want to be the mum i thought i would be. TV was never gonna be on during the day and now its almost always on. One thing she will spend ages doing is standing on a chair at the sink playing with water - she loves it!!! But i just need some more ideas for playing together. Thanks to all you guys for your suggestions and advice X

[marne]

DD loves it in the bath, spend ages playing in there. She loves being pushed on her ride-on car. She helps me tidy up, we try and make a game out of putting things in her toy box and putting her books away. But she still spends 5-6 hours a day in front of the tv.

[Mandymoo]

Maybe i'm putting too much pressure on us both - just want to do the best for her

[vwvic]

Have you tried using a timer? I do this with dd2, and take it in turns to "help" each other. For example, first we play a game or watch tv for 15 minutes, with me "helping" her. Then we set the timer for however long I think the job will take me (usually only 5-10 mins), and she get to help me with a household task such as passing me pegs, carrying recycling, putting clothes in the washing machine, playing "sorting game" with the clean clothes etc. Then it's her turn to set the timer, and we do one of "her" things again.

I guess that I actually spend not very much time at all playing with toys etc with her, I try get her involved with what I'm doing. I'm not sure that little ones this age necessarily make the distinction between work and play- most things can be fun for them if you market them in the right way.

The downside is that it takes ages to do anything. And I still feel guilty for not playing with toys with her.

[Mandymoo]

very good point - i suppose it doesnt have to be about toys but just letting her get involved with what i'm doing. I guess its just about spending time together no matter what we;re doing X