How do I play with DD?

[xtinak]

I don't know how to play with my DD! She is 22 months and I find that she just wants to throw and bash things and maybe climb on them and run around and scream. I don't know how to engage with her and I just can't quite get into the spirit of bashing things. I can't seem to create a structure for play. Everything seems random. By contrast, there another child I know fairly well with whom you can, for example, sit and do a puzzle together. I manage much better with this sort of thing
but my DD will no way do that. I find myself trying to get her to do that sort of activity but she really just isn't up for it, so I'm sure I need to find a way to play on her terms. But I just can't seem to! Help!

I have a 2.5YO daughter who is both the above kids rolled into one one minute she can focus like a laser on a jigsaw. Next she's barely even aware that you're in the room with her. I'd say try and home in on what she's interested in rather than frustrating each other trying to do something she isn't into. Eg if she's throwing things try getting her a large ball and throwing and catching or rolling a ball to and from each other. Try and make it into some sort of 'you and me' game so that she's learning that kind of interaction. Mine used to love jigsaws but lately she couldn't give a toss about them. She's far more into dolls and small world right now and imaginative play so I'm rolling with that as it's wonderful. As long as you can incorporate some sort of joint attention into your day i think you're doing what you can.xx

Some children like to play and run around, and others are happy to sit and learn but they all love fun.

You don't need to bash things, there are many games they like at that age.

With my 21mo I do the following;

Sing and do the actions to nursery rhymes
When he is cheeky I pretend I am going to get him for it, they like the chase more than the catch so I go overboard with many warnings that I'm on my way and I am going to get him.
He picks up on everything we do, so he will happily wipe the table (badly) or pretend to hoover for me.
He only has a dummy for bed time, so when I take it off him in the morning I pretend to hide it somewhere he can find it. Then look shocked when he finds it and hide it again.
I ask him for a kiss, he runs away knowing I will run after him pick him up and give him a big kiss. I put him down, he runs away chuckling, I shout hey get back here and we repeat.
He plays hide and seek, although he still believes if he covers his head and can't see you, it means you can't see him.

He also has a tonne of toys and loves his ride on car and anything interactive (the noisier the better) He is at an age where he can do the easy puzzles and when he gets praised for it, he will happily do that for a good 15 minutes before moving on. They generally love anything outdoor and he is always on our 10ft trampoline even though it is too big for him and a paddling pool in the summer.

If your daughter likes bashing she may like the giant lego you can get, as she is too young for small pieces.

@Jannt86 I think ball games related games might be a good idea! Thanks for that. The small world stuff sounds lovely though. I hope my DD gets into that as well.

@Tacca That's reassuring as we do play games that sound quite similar to that. Outside seems to hold her attention much more than anything we can do inside as well. We've got some Duplo but that is largely good for tipping and throwing!