To be finding imaginary play utterly should destroying?

[Mittensonkittens]

I've tried to divert ds with paints, play doh and sticking.

Nope. He's still bossing me around doing imaginary play. When I do it it isn't right and I get corrected. I'm being instructed on what to say and do and it's driving me up the fucking wall.

Every sentence that comes out of his mouth is 'you do this, ok?'
'Now you have to do this ok?'

He's 4. Will it stop soon?

Utterly soul destroying that should be!

When I do it it isn't right and I get corrected.

This is why I completely agree

I'm trying to play along and get told it isn't right! Argh!

It will ease off eventually. Probably when he starts school and finds other children to boss instead!

Yanbu! And IMO it won't stop, no; the scenarios will just get more and more complex, and the instructions more and more lengthy and detailed!

It's possibly the worst thing about being a parent. I'd rather be covered in warm sick than do imaginary play. It's not imaginary for me, it's me being bossed about and being told I'm doing everything wrong, then child throws a paddy because I have done something I wasn't supposed to despite not being a mind reader. My child started IP at about 2 1/2 and is now 5 and still doing it, though I am less tolerant now and say that that sort of play is for her and her friends at school, not for me. I am becoming a refusenik.

Gah no jackster no! This is bad news!

Does he actually want you to do the things he is saying, though? Sometimes imaginary play can be like a fantasy conversation where the child says what you will do and all you have to do is agree. It's more that he is telling a story but he doesn't have the vocabulary to frame it that way. I see lots of children have long conversations where they 'plan out' a game which never actually happens but they know who is going to be the daddy, where they are going to go shopping etc etc. Then they go off and do something else!

Me too Enb
I'd rather do crafts

No he says 'mommy we have to play paw patrol and you are Ryder. Now you have to say 'paw patrol to your station!' Not like that mommy, not like that! Like this, you have to say this! Now go over there!'

He wants your attention - why not get off the phone/laptop and engage fully with him, he should not have to compete. role play is one of the main ways children learn. that may sound harsh but I really do believe kids thesedays are having to compete with their parents gadgets like never before - time and time again I will see someone FBing or texting when their LO is sat there asking them a question over and over and just being ignored. They will give up asking. They should be finding out new things every day and soaking information about their world up like a sponge.

My response would be, not now darling we're going to do sticking. Followed by 'mummy doesn't play paw patrol'.
And if necessary 'mummy definitely doesn't play with people who tantrum'
I probably scarred my children for life but they're in their 20s now and don't seem to bear any grudges.

I hate playing shops - I try but it's so boring. Only answer is to have another child. Dd1 now bosses her 2 younger sisters around. She's 5 yo and dtds are 2. Dtds play together so I'm usually able to sit and watch. :)

I am dreading imaginary play. DREADING it.

I can see it being the one thing that will increase my desire to actually do some housework.

Christ is this what's ahead?! Anyone know if having twins will mean i will be off the IP hook (i.e they'll hassle each other instead of me?)

And then when you really put effort in and play your role really well, they look at you with that look and say 'you do KNOW its not real mummy?' Making you feel like a complete eejit

All I can say is no... YANBU

I hate it. And unfortunately I'm not able to magic up a sibling to get me out of it . My heart filled with dread whenever DD said 'let's play talking'. And now she's nearly 4 and was bossing me about like this only last night. My sister and DH are very good at it but unfortunately DD has been lumbered with the most uncreative, unimaginative mother in creation.

Play is how they learn.

My daughter was the same and it was an opportunity to teach her about listening to others, picking up clues about how they might want to play and be feeling about being bossed about, making bargains about we'll do it your way now but my way later etc

I was nice and the adult about it. As she got older the other kids weren't so nice and she very quickly learnt she pissed people off and changed. She's now 11 and a very kind and thoughtful girl that I'm very proud of.

Mine were heavily into imaginative play when they were little. It's very good for their development and communication skills but utterly soul destroying for the parents

I remember a particularly harrowing afternoon when my DD wanted us to pretend that we were Rich Tea biscuits.

How the fuck does one 'talk like a biscuit'?????

She's off to uni next year and is bright and well-adjusted and everything - but seriously!!!

OK or what joysmum said

Just be glad they are able to enjoy it. My 6 year old has autism and severe learning difficulties - I would be jumping for joy if he was able to take part in imaginary play.

My daughter (3y10m) is the same. Even after observing how she plays I try to do what I think is the same "No, Mummy, that's not where they go..." "No!" "Mummy, you're getting it wrong!". GAH!
Overhearing her playing though when she doesn't know I'm listening is gorgeous. She does little voices for the toys, they have conversations, she tells them off for misbehaving(!). I love it.

I sometimes like it if in the mood. I do all the funny voices and things. But I get tired of it before dd! She is 9 now but we still play sometimes. She doesn't do the annoying telling you what to do now, although she is still really bossy iIRL