To be expected to entertain DD 24/7?

Could you get two (Barbie size) dolls and have them play houses? You could have a baby doll too if that’s what she likes.

You do the voices for both so she can just watch them. One can say to the other about making a cake and the other can say she will help and you can make them walk to the fridge (whatever you use for that, empty box?) get the ingredients out etc etc. bBasically the two dolls talking to each other.

That’ll teach her how to play with two dolls at once, as I presume she would play with one and you would play with the other. Bingo you are no longer required as she’s covering both the parts. You can just chip in things now and again like suggestions about what the dolls could do.

Don't give her the iPad. She is too young. She will never learn to play independently if that is always the other option.
You sound like you are doing great. One activity a day (the swimming, bike rides etc) sounds like plenty. Can you structure it so that it breaks up the longer block of time in the house?
When my girls would ask me to play babies or dolls etc I'd always ask them to get it set up while I was (chopping the carrots, going to the toilet, folding the laundry etc). So they got used to starting off a game by themselves. At first I'd come pretty quickly and ask what was happening, they would have a character out for me etc. But gradually they began to gain confidence and could start to play a bit themselves, or they were enjoying the whole setting up bit they would say "not yet mammmy" if I came.
An alternative tactic is to start the game with them and then have to go to the toilet, check on dinner etc and let them carry on. I'd ask them to mind my doll/dress my barbie/feed my baby etc while I was gone. Then come back. Over time this can be extended too.

Picture books are great for open ended independent time for that age group too. They can look through as many or few as they like, as quickly or slowly as they like. Maybe include the local library in your activities and get a new set weekly. Of course read them together too, but encourage loving through by themselves.

Water is another great way to extend independent time. Or anything messy..... fill up the sink or bath and give her bowls, pots, bottles etc for filling and pouring.
Good luck.

5 minute mum has lots of things you can set up and do.

How about art things? Set up some paint/playdough and she can do that next to you while you do your own thing?

Set lots of little tasks? -eg use your duplo to build a tower for Rapunzel to live in.

Try taking away a load of toys, like a toy rotation so they don't lose their novelty value.

How long is she on the iPad?

It’s tedious but then the days then years go so quickly. I found and find now the radio a godsend in the background makes playing along easier 😂

This sounds really hard - could she change her nursery days to more half days, or are the two days when you work?

Or could you have some more play dates so she has other children to play with?

Can you involve her more in the things you need to get done, as others have suggested.

It’s really crap because I really understand that loads of time watching an I pad isn’t great but I totally understand why you might need this! I’m not sure of the answers but it doesn’t come naturally to most adults to just play for long periods of time, especially when you have lots of things to get down playing in the back of your mind.

I think there's a happy medium here of max an hour of the mummies and babies (which I agree can get very trying), but more quality time spent with her doing other things that you actually like. Drawing, singing, dancing, cooking, reading, board games, even competitive tidying (it actually works!) - all of that is nice time spent together while hopefully being fun for both of you.

Could you for a play park visit in as well as an activity? Or take her round the block with her bike or scooter? Something physical and outdoors to make her feel a bit tired and she may give you more of a break.

I just get a box of toys out and tell mine I’m busy and they’ve have to entertain themselves.

My mother never played with me either, I was expected to play with my siblings.

There are actually studies that suggest playing with parents adds no value to a child’s development, it’s best for them to play with other kids. I take comfort from that because I’m really not a ‘Lego and train set’ type. And I’m shit at imagination games.

Tbh, 1 hour a day of playing isn’t enough. You should spend more time playing with a 4yr old. 24/7 isn’t needed but I feel your DD already knows how to play by herself from what you have described.

I used to include mine with me on my things I had to get done. From cleaning to gardening to DIY.

My mother never just played with me. If I wanted her company, 1 joining in whatever she was doing. Looking back I guess I wasn’t much help (understatement) but it was understood that she had stuff to do.

best start good habits early, looking back I ended up learning loads of things that my friends have no clue about. She would narrative what she was doing and over the years I unconsciously soaked it all up. Great training.

all the best

It sounds to me like you have a good balance but she would really benefit from learning how to play independently and on her own for a while. It's an important skill to develop.

I used to be a childminder and some children came to me completely unable to play without an adult leading them. I'd start a game with them and then gradually move away so they could carry on themselves to gradually build up their ability for independent play.

Some kids are like this and I agree with you that I also find it quite tedious. My twins are 7 and still require an awful lot of external playing engagement and will rarely play solo – they just really like interaction! Unfortunately they rarely play with each other – they don’t really get on!