To expect my ds to play independently from time to time

[fber]

He's just turned 4 years old and will not play independently at all. He follows me round from room to room, can't get much done at all. Drives me mad!!! Does anyone else have this problem or have I done something wrong? He's perfectly 'normal' it would seem, just very, very, demanding. As I am typing this he is running a toy train across the keyboard...

My 3.3yr old is like this. Constantly asking us to play with him. "Mummy you have Buzz, and I'll have Woody" and I have to role play with him, or "Mummy you have the red car and I'll have the blue one" etc etc etc. We do play with him ofcourse, but it's not easy to find the time as we also have a 18 month old and when you are trying to get some chores done/get dressed/cook etc. He does occassionally play on his own, but 90% of the time he wants you to join him. Can't wait till DD is older and can play with him!

2 ideas:

1. play with him for a little bit, and then suggest he carries on by himself - he may be happy now he's had some of your attention.

1. give him jobs to do so that you can get one with whatever you need to do and he keeps occupied e.g. if you're sorting out the washing ask him to match socks of the same colour.

Thanks those are really good suggestions.

If anyone else has managed to prise a little 'un off of their hip, please share...

I always used to give my ds attention when asked for a short period and then tell him I had other things to do. Repeat the same action each time. It works eventually

My ds1 is like this - he is now 7 and still very, very demanding of adult attention, even though we also have ds2 (who is 3.9 years old). I think some children are just more demanding than others!

My 8 year old is (still - sorry!!) like this, and it was only having another child that made us realise how clingy he is! I don't pretend to have all the answers, but maybe getting some different toys out or moving them into a different place would make it seem new and interesting and absorb him for a bit?

What redsky said.

i have 3 at home at the minute none will play with brother/sister all morning i have been going backwards and forwards from trains to cars / blocks / to moshlings in the dools house.

I gave up made a batch of fairy cakes plonked them on the table with a bowl of nuteela / icing sugar / raisins / sprinkley cake bits.....All three sat together sharing!!!10 minutes so far of quite lovleyness i refuse to think about the sugar high