Does anyone else have a toddler that will not play by themselves...AT ALL??

[Ceebee74]

DS1 is 2.6 and has never really played by himself - we maybe get 10 minutes once in a blue moon but otherwise, he seems to need to have either me or DH entertaining him in some way!

We have tried not to but then he just gets naughty and starts knocking things over etc.

It has really been highlighted this week as he has chicken pox and not been able to go to nursery as normal so I have had him at home for 4 days solid (and DH is away so have not had a break at all - plus I have a 10 week old baby who has been so neglected this week!)

Is this normal and what can we do to encourage it? I have tried setting him off playing something and then leaving him to it...he just follows me.

I think 10mins is a decent stretch at that age.

The only thing that I've found that helps DD to play independently for a bit is to spend a good while giving her my undivided attention beforehand. After an activity like making biscuits, where I'm totally focused on her for an hour or so, she will then often toddle off and play for 30-40mins.

Dd (3.5) will very occaisionally play alone for 10-20 minuts but it's very unpredictable - sometimes she will if I am persistently busy in the kitchen. Heaven help me if I dare to sit down though . I totally despair of dd ever playing alone.

She loves to have another toddler though and I invite other toddlers around at every opportunity!

Just so you can see a vague glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel - I have the same age gap as you but they are now 4 and 18 months and have just started to play nicely together and entertain each other. Unfortunately the only other thing that entertains her is the tv!

Runoutofideas - thanks for that glimmer of hope...so I only have another 16 months to wait

It isn't just the fact he can't play by himself but he also gets bored very easily and wanders off and starts something else or starts playing up...nursery are welcome to him tomorrow

MY DS 2.7 months is like this too . His favourite expression is "PLAY WITH ME!" I have just had DD - 5 days ago and I am dreading DH going back to work. He goes to nursery 2 days a week thank goodness so he is thoroughly entertained there.

I do try though when I'm at home with him alone to be very firm with him that I have jobs to do and he has to go and find something to do. I don't give in to the constant TV demand either. We have a little kitchen thing which he seems to love so he'll potter off and play with that but I try to get out of the house as much as possible.

It is hard and one of my constant bug bears !

Herbgarden congratulations on the birth of your DD

I felt exactly the same as you when DS2 was born - fortunately, due to circumstances at DH's work and Christmas, he was actually home for about 6 weeks - was bliss! Had he had to go to work any earlier, I don't know how I would have managed! DS1 also still goes to nursery 4 days a week - I can't bring myself to drop any days (I was planning on only 3 days whilst on mat leave) as he is just such hard work to have at home

Am glad I am not the only one with a persistent toddler - if we say no his idea of entertaining himself is to be destructive (pull all his books off the shelves etc) so it is easier to go along with whatever he wants.

I can't wait until DS2 is older and can actually play with him....maybe then we will get a break