how to encourage ds 2.3 to play more by himself

[lewislewis]

I am exhausted today and lost my rag with ds. I love playing with him most of the time, we play a lot and he amuses himself in dribs and drabs, once a day I put the telly on, try not to have it on for more than 45 mins because it makes me feel depressed. Question I wanted to ask is how can i enocourage him to spend more time alone/playing etc. If I do stuff without him for too long (not talking about cooking, i involve him in cooking, i am talking about reading a newspaper) he whinges, or starts to do stuff that he knows is not allowed. When we are out he is very independent though, and leaves me in peace....Help me please.

ignore him

get him something that will involve him like lego or cars or whatever he likes and just sit near him on a chair mumbling encouragement every so often

can't say for sure as I suspect mine are naturally independednt, but I am also naturally a bit lazy so it could be one of these things:

sometimes I get a toy out and just start to play with it. ds takes an interest and then I sneak off.

a different place also makes them both play more - even just the garden, or the bedroom if they don't usually play in there.

mind you, I say they're independent, but i never get to read more than a story or two in a paper. that's just one of the things about having kids.

My DS started to play independently after he started preschool, just before his 3 rd birthday.

Maybe I am just asking too much, I do manage to read a couple of articles at a time, today I basically wanted at least 1.2 hour of uninterrupted time to myself! I do a lot of the mumbling encouragement whilst doing something else. Do you think 1/2 hour is toooo much to ask at this age? And without telly?

I think I'm like SenoraP

"I suspect mine are naturally independednt, but I am also naturally a bit lazy" ... me too

1/2 hour - no chance! At least not with mine (31/2 and 16 months). When they do play on their own/together it's their choice never on demand. I've just come to accept that's the way it is with my kids and I do think I'll reap the benefits later. In fact, I think I already am. Just means I'm knackered all the time and sometimes cross with them.

LL, my 2 yr old dd plays by herself (and other kids) in nursery. At home, she sticks like glue. Forget 0.5 hours, maybe 0.5 minutes if I am lucky.

I agree with spiderfan, it is just the way she is. Whilst it is very frustrating when they are young, but I believe it is a good thing when dd gets older, particularly when she is a teenager.

I am naturally lazy too - but no joy with dd. I don't believe you can "train" a child to play by themselves, if they were not ready, without potential damage to your relationship.

If he is fine when you are out then go out more and take the newspaper.