To find playing with my toddler really boring?

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I really enjoy taking him out to places, so we generally go out somewhere every morning on the 5 days a week I'm home with him. I enjoy watching Disney films together and ready books together. I like playing games like chasing him, peekaboo etc. I just find sitting and playing with toys with him so, so dull. I'm not good at imaginative play, and (probably as a result) neither is he. He doesn't have any siblings so he looks to me as his only play partner, and I just hate it. Time literally crawls. But I know this sort of 1:1 play time is so important for his development. Any tips to make it more bearable?

Limit it to 15 mins a day and try to enjoy it. The rest of the time let them do what they want and just make encouraging noises.

You're not being unreasonable - it's very boring.

Probably not helpful for you, but one of the big advantages of having a second child (if close enough together) is that they will happily do lots of imagnitive play together and leave you out of it! 😆

He also needs to play with toys by himself sometimes. You don't have to give 24/7 attention so don't worry.

Playing is The Worst. Get grandparents or relatives to do it.
I’m like you, much prefer a trip out to a playing.

I never realised we were supposed to play imaginary games. I also used to go out in the mornings to do stuff & would enjoy things like baking. DD was able to play independently for ages from a young age which was great e.g. farm animals in sink, play doh, colouring. So she never needed me to join in. DS had zero interest and would mess around. He's mostly still interested in kicking a ball. Never even watched TV. It was easier to have a mate over tbh.

When I hear the word 'mummy can you play with me?' I curl up inside. I will literally do anything except sit down and play barbies.

I don’t ever do it. Three kids down. The only time I ever did it was in lock down. My kids are very good at pottering on their own and using their imagination especially the younger two who had had successively and less one to one attention. They don’t need me.

I feel ya. I love her so much but yes, 2 year old play is very boring.

Pretending to be Thomas the Tank every day nearly finished me off.
However I made myself do it and so glad I did just to see the pleasure it gave him.
I used to tell myself that one day he won't want me to play with him anymore.

Nailed it

I totally agreed with this when I was a mum. Now I'm a grandmother, I could play with them all the time (perhaps because I don't have them 24/7)

its terribly boring! I remember it when DS was younger and all he would ever say is “play with me”. This was during Covid lockdown when we were both trying to work from home...

Okay today I limited it to half an hour... after 20 mins of naming different vehicles over and over again (yes, car... oooh plane, flying plane... tractor, yes red car) I had to walk off 😂

@Fritilleries

“Give yourself a focus. Take lego. Focus on colours. Make a red model. A blue model. A yellow model. Then focus on small, medium and large. You could count the blocks”

Blimey, that sounds boring!

I give myself challenges. Like make the little playmobil people interact only via song lyrics.

Thankfully my DS are well past this stage, but I remember having a discussion with a friend about how the words "mummy, can you play with me" had started to fill us with dread.

Board games, fine. Make Lego together, fine). Play football, fine.

Imaginative play - arghhhh.

sigh

Ha ha, I get you- I remember many years ago my very sharp son aged around 5 used to like his dad reading bedtime stories because 'he does all the voices' - 'you mummy seem to be 'rushing it through' !! And yep- he was right

I also don't do this very frequently. I really can't think of other cultures glbally or historically where adults are expected to be their child's constant companion and playmate. Happy to be corrected.

I get out with my children, I talk to them, we have kitchen discos, we go exploring in the woods and at the beach, we read every day. But when it comes to play, I see myself as a facilitator. I buy decent quality toys, often second hand and I suggest things to do with them. I'll often narrate or support with problem solving. But i'm not down on the floor playing with them much and I've got no qualms about getting on with other things in the general vicinity. I never do messy crafts because I hate them, and it's what I pay nursery for as far as I am concerned.

None of the adults in my life played with me on a day to day basis. I am an intelligent, articulate, sociable person with a wide range of interests and very (in fact most) happy when in my own company.

I hate it. The clock hand ticks backwards I swear. I just won’t do it. I’m a loving, caring parent. I draw the line at Barbies.

To be fair to DD she often counts it as playing with her if I make the occasional comment while folding laundry

That's why my kids went to nursery. My work is much more enjoyable than playing with toddlers.

Just do it in very limited slots of 20 mins, otherwise do things that you enjoy with him. It’s also good for them to learn to entertain themselves. Could he do more time at nursery?