Not to role play with my children?

[Tinseltower]

I don’t know why but I really really dislike playing. The type where you play with figures or cars etc or even mums and dads style playing. I’ll happily play other things with them like board games or hide and seek or do things with them like baking.

I feel guilty as by middle child always asks and I deflect him into something else or suggest something I like.

Am I harming them by not playing with them?

It really isn't sad if you don't role play with your children.

I did many many other things. Painting, cooking, writing stories, making dens, going on walks, singing, reading - the list goes on.

I can't believe people are pitying my children because I didn't pretend to be a superhero. They pretended with their friends. I did however provide small world stuff and dressing up to feed their imaginations.

God no, hate it and everything about it. Particularly the American accent my daughter seemed to adopt!

I did cooking and trips and playgrounds and building etc etc, but role play.... no thanks!

Fortunately having so many kids meant someone would always play lol.

Funny enough, the American accent one is a prize winning story writer now!

When my children were small I much preferred this type of game to board games which are so dull (should be called BORED games!)
I particularly remember answering the door with a colander on my head (I was an astronaut) and being a customer at the hairdresser as DD2 sprayed something weird in my hair....
The point is you don't really have to DO anything - just accommodate the direction of play they wish to go in! Just relax....

TheFairyCaravan
This thread is so sad.

How do you work that out? Look at it again..... all these parents interacting with their kids, cooking, taking them out, playing all types of games with them.

How on earth is a thread that speaks of parents interacting with their children 'so sad'?

Don’t worry about it, it’s much more important that you talk to your kids and listen to them, most kids can play by themselves and will role play with other children.

I’m a nanny and I don’t like it lol. I’ll spend hours reading, doing messy/creative play. Construction toys etc but I am rubbish at making up role play games and It’s my job so don’t feel bad.

I liked role playing with my DC when they were small and i loved anything creative and crafty. The thing i HATED was reading out loud. I didn't mind short baby type books but anything longer with no pictures and with chapters made my heart sink. Thankfully my DH likes reading out loud so he did that while i did the bits i enjoyed. My DC are adults now and seem to have coped with this.

I have realised it can be a crafty way to have a site down eg you be the chef/waitress and I'll be the customer or you be the doctor and I'll be the patient. The doctor one is really good as the patient gets to lie on the settee for most of it. This game became very popular when I was pregnant!

*sit down

Exactly SnugglySnerd!

I think I probably did a little with my kids, but I got bored quite quickly.

I do remember when I was a child, and I had loads of role play games that never ever involved an adult ( mum or gran were always busy). I would not have wanted adults involved. Adults think in a completely different way from children, we can't help it. I remember playing with friends and every game started with "Make it...." As in " Make it we live in a tree and" or " make it that bench is a ship". Adults can't do "Make it" properly. It's for kids and they do it better without adult input, I think

I HATE role play. Luckily DS seems to too, though I am perfectly willing to accept that's because of how he's been parented
He was in nursery since he was a year old so had ample opportunity to it there if he wanted but he never seemed to be that bothered. I remember his reception teacher being slightly concerned that he never played like that and would rather spend his time playing outside (football or climbing) or practising his writing. But that's just how he is - he's active and practical. Now he's 10, those are still the kind of activities he enjoys most but he has a good imagination as he also reads a lot and can write really good stories.

Oh God I hated all this crap too.

Fortunately my dear old mum was always happy to participate and would sit on the stairs for hours on end with DS1 pretending to be on a bus while he drove it.

It's not sad at all.

I hated it too and when I did try it always felt forced, my kids picked up on my reluctance.

No child will be harmed because a parent failed to provide these talking teddy opportunities.
There are many other ways to play.

My OH never played football with our son- he dislikes sport.
He would however do lots of other stuff, build things, go foraging in the woods, collecting fossils, visiting events, of their special cafe for hot chocolate with flakes and marshmallows.

In the same way my son didn't miss out by not playing football, neither did our kids miss out on the " making toys come alive" thing.
We had plenty other types of play, stories, craft, games, dressing up.

In context it's no big deal.

I was always happy to be bandaged or have my hair done at the "hairdressers".

When my DD was old enough she would indulge her role p[laying needs with her best friend who lived next door- they would play literally for hours with dolls then barbies in her room, most days of the week.

Let me off the hook nicely.

They do role play at nursery and school so no need to really do it much at home, a lot of children will do it on their own or with siblings. My children don’t really do role play as they have ASD (one will do it alone but not with others). They are now too old for role play but I would have been happy to join in when they were younger.

Mixed comments then! I do like doing activities and playing some imaginative games. Like this morning I was being a monster and trying to steal mince pies. Had them squeling running around downstairs. I’m not completely boring!

It’s just the figures, acting that requires a narrative etc I don’t like.

I never role-played. I'd fail at impersonating myself in RL, such is my acting talent. I am a dab hand at Knex, Lego and Jigsaws to make up for it.

I think we are too quick to judge ourselves.

Parenting is a hard enough task without this idea that we should be fulfilling every single creative/educational/social need that a child has.

Being a " good enough" parent is good enough.
Children raised in a loving environment , their basic needs met and opportunity to interact and play with others will thrive.

We dont need to be brilliant nutritionists, play development officers, social psychologists, sports trainers in order to raise good balanced individuals.

I think we need to relax a bit. Children love attention, it's good for them and nurtures their self esteem, but the activity matters less than the intent.
Spending an hour in the garden planting potatoes or doing a puzzle, or baking, or walking and talking through the woods, or role playing are all as good as each other as long as the adult is engaged.

And far better that the activity is something the adult is authentically engaged in= because it's an activity they enjoy too than faking it for the sake of the child.

I never role played with my kids and I feel not a trace of guilt.

I’ve seen it all now. A biblical quote given as an argument on a thread about playing houses with your kids

I only do it when I have to. I enjoy spending time with my dc, I am always ready to listen, chat, read a story etc but I am just not into playing.

I hate it too. I can do it for a little while and then I hit a wall and physically have to stop.

makeitstop -

I usually don’t mind it but we’re currently at in laws in Scotland where it’s been raining heavily for the last week. So, it’s been Bear Hunt role play continuously! Really really boring! But my DS loves it. So I I try to engage as much as I can. I actually love how his imagination has been truly captured so after the initial muttering under my breath I get on with it. Looking forward to DD (5months) getting older so they can play together.
So YABU