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Original poster

Playing with 1 year old

25 replies

Ohsotired123 · 03/08/2016 08:14

What do you do with your 1 year old when indoors?

My mum looks after DS 1 day and she plays with him all day. I don't understand how she can 'play' with a 1 year old constantly. But I've seen her in action. She sits there on the floor with him and talks about toys etc 'what you going' or 'oh what u got...knock the tower down' bla bla bla. She would do this for HOURS and wouldn't do anything else in between, I.e look at her phone it watch the tv . Is that normal to do?!

I do it for 20 minutes and I'm so so bored and have to do something else.

It's different when out of the house but when you're indoors!

What do you lot do?

OP posts:
MrsJayy · 03/08/2016 08:19

I think she is just excited to see him its just 1 day he is her grandson so she plays with him bet she didnt play with you all day. It is different when you are at home you have stuff to do twenty minute bursts is fine

Luckystar1 · 03/08/2016 08:23

Oh thank god, I'm so pleased when things like this come up. I find playing sooooooo boring especially as DS (21 months) has the attention span of a gnat!

He'll happily play on his own and when I feel guilty and join in, he doesn't really want me to play!

I think we should remember that when it's not your house, you don't need to do the cooking/cleaning/washing etc so that's why your mum can do as she does!

BendydickCuminsnatch · 03/08/2016 08:27

Agree it's probably the novelty! Days at home for me and 14 month old involve some time with me playing with him, some play by himself, TV, bashing the piano, walks round garden, playing in bedroom. Most of the time I'm on my phone which does make me feel guilty!

MrsJayy · 03/08/2016 08:27

Playing is a whole number of things from chatting to rolling about the floor being a tiger as long as you interact with your baby/toddler thats playing .

Luckystar1 · 03/08/2016 08:31

I read a LOT of stories to DS. I'm 40+5 weeks pregnant so I have struggled to really do much with him recently.

We do stickers and sometimes painting. And out in the garden while he plays on the slide and I bounce on the stupid ball..

davos · 03/08/2016 08:33

Playdoh is my main go to at that age. Stickers and anything that makes a noise.

Remember your mum does have you son everyday and night. It's novelty as pp says. She can also dedicate those few hours to your child and get everything else done at other times.

blueskywithclouds · 03/08/2016 08:33

My mum is the same! I'm sure it is just because she loves seeing dd. She didn't play with me like that as a child because she was too busy with running a house! I leave dd to it until she moans at me for not playing. It is bloody boring.

MrsJayy · 03/08/2016 08:34

Oh Luckystar hope baby apppears soon.

TheCrumpettyTree · 03/08/2016 08:35

I can't play with my children all day, I have things to do in the house. Washing, clearing up etc. It's different if your DM just has him for a day. She can dedicate that time to him.

PinkPearls20 · 03/08/2016 08:37

Your mum sounds amazing Smile

MrsJayy · 03/08/2016 08:38

I didnt play with mine all day I dont think they need that all day every day anyway

Muskateersmummy · 03/08/2016 08:42

Dmil was like this when she looked after dd as a tiny baby. I think it's easier when you are just looking after baby as you have nothing to do but entertain them. As mummy you have to do lots of other jobs too so it's much more play for a short burst then go off and do other things.

cuntinghomicidalcardigan · 03/08/2016 08:47

I'm pretty sure I could do it for one solid day... if someone else would then look after them for the rest of the week! I'm lucky in that my 4 and almost 2 yo play beautifully together (most of the time). The 4yo loves coming up with games for ds and she reads him stories, finds his cup, builds towers for knocking down, sets up the train track... and she sees it all as one big game for her too! I flit about, join in for half an hour then do a job then join in again. I find it makes both the jobs and playing easier to do!

dailymaillazyjournos · 03/08/2016 09:02

I do the same with similar age dgd when I look after her. I sit on the floor (so I can block off her access to the broadband router) and talk to her and play with her tots with her. Time with her is precious. Due to distance I tend to be with dd &co for a week and I want to do as much with her as poss. I fit jobs like tidying, washing, cooking, around her naps or do them after she's gone to bed. Maybe if I saw her more often I wouldn't feel like every minute with her is so precious. I did play with dd a lot but u admit not as much as with dgd.

dailymaillazyjournos · 03/08/2016 09:03

Excuse typos. I'm terrible at typing on my phone.

CigarsofthePharoahs · 03/08/2016 09:09

I can't maintain that level of play for long. I think it's the constant repetition. I also have other stuff to be getting on with as well, assuming my family happen to want clean clothes, a reasonably tidy house and food to eat.
My mum does the kind of play you talk about, has done it with both of my children at that age. I think it's part of being a grandparent, all the fun and none of the responsibility.

Nanny0gg · 03/08/2016 09:12

I never did that. Play for a while, show them how the pop-up toys (or whatever) work and let them get on with it (same room so chatting too).

Otherwise, they never learn to play and amuse themselves!

(And being a GP hasn't changed me in that regard either!)

PeppaPigTastesLikeBacon · 03/08/2016 09:13

My mum is the same with DD. She doesn't have to get up with her in the night or calm a temper tantrum. I think children need their own time to process things. I do play with DD a lot but not constantly like my mum does when she sees her

Luckystar1 · 03/08/2016 09:21

MrsJayy I'm holding out no hope. At this rate it'll be 2017 before the baby makes an appearance...

MrsJayy · 03/08/2016 09:25

Oh Luckystar you are at the hysterical stage Grin

Luckystar1 · 03/08/2016 11:09

Yes, thankfully only DH and DS are affected on a day to day basis. I think my friends who are helpfully texting me numerous times a day should consider themselves extremely lucky I'm not replying what is actually in my head...

MrsJayy · 03/08/2016 11:12

Aww the well meaning advice and sympathy when all you want to do is punch them in the face

M0nstersinthecl0set · 03/08/2016 11:17

She's great. My mum will get toys out and get back to a book. Most gp i've seen are good for about an hour. It's lovely she puts that much effort in.

FiddleFigs · 03/08/2016 11:42

My PILs are like this. They spend every other Tuesday with DD (2.5 years) and have done since she was born. And it's a full on day of non-stop play. It always amazes me - they will do whatever she wants. But, they are both retired and have admitted that they spend the next day lazing at home, recovering.

Luckystar1 · 03/08/2016 12:17

This makes me feel bad for my DS. We very rarely see grandparents on either side (a day every 4 months at most) and they definitely don't do this, is he missing out by not having intensive one on one time?!

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