Suggestions on how to encourage your child to entertain themselves!

[janjas]

My dd is 2.4 and will not play by herself, even for 10 mins! Don't get me wrong, I will happily sit on the floor and play with all her toys with her, but sometimes I just need that little break to tidy up, make tea or even just to sit and have a cup of coffee for a few mins! Our days starts at appx 6.30am and ends at appx 7.30pm and all day all we get is "mummy play with me" "daddy play with me" ! The only time she is happy on her own is when she is watching Cbeebies but obviously I do try to limit this - although it is a good distraction sometimes! I try to take her out as much as possible, parks, playgroups etc and she is ok for a while but then wants me to go down the slide with her, or play with the toys with her etc etc! Please help!

Forgot to add, she's not a clingy child. She goes to nursery one afternoon a week, and goes to my parents for one day a week where she spends the day with her cousins who are all about the same age.

My little one was just the same. She loved being with other children though - what about a regular playdate with another little girl and her mum? And sometimes they just need to get nudged into some independent play like 'can you put the dolly dressed now..perhaps she needs some food. Maybe you can make her some in a (toy) saucepan? I'll just go and make your tea, whilst you're making her tea and I'll guess what she's having when I come back'. Or make a little camp in the sittingroom and put some of her toys in there to keep her company, and say you will come and visit her later. It won't be much of a break, but she might rather enjoy doing things parallel to but not with you. Or story tapes - you can get them from the library, Alfie stories for example by Shirley Hughes or nursery rhyme tapes.

I tried everything with DD1 but she was about 4 before she started playing for any length of time on her own. DD2 is only 13 months & will quite happily sit & 'read' a book or play with various toys for a good 15/20 minutes on her own. She might come find me if I'm out of the room for more than a couple of minutes but she'll play in the kitchen if she can see me.

DD1 was always better if there were other children and preferred them to me if they were available but that's not always easy. Now she's 7 she goes off to her room for some 'me time'

I wonder if its just their nature.

One of mine, dd2, never did play by herself. She's 7 now and still rarely does, though she will do art and craft alone since she was 5 or so.

My other two played alone from about 18m, but dd2 didn't. I do think it's in their nature. dd2 is desperately sociable, never happier than with friends or in a group. Never stops talking, even now.

My main tip for a child like that is provide them with lots of playmates. Toddler groups, friends round, going out lots.

My dd1 is like that (tho not dd2). For getting chores done, she just comes and helps. She's quite good at it! Like wiping place mats and the table down, dustpan and brushing etc. Now dd2 thinks it's a great game too so anyone coming round would think I work them like tiny slaves !

Just recently, tho dd1 has been playing more in her room, because she's learning to read/write and likes to make me long "lists" and lots of pictures etc. Plus the two of them will dollhouse together reasonably happily.

Sitting down for a quiet coffee, however, seems not really to be an option!