2.4 year old never plays alone..

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getting worse and worse and screams for play when wakes up and then after lunch and then after nap and then after dinner

exhaisting for both hubby and me

any tips?

is this normal? never ever plays alone with his toys and he loves toys

Would he play while you were in the room doing something else, but talking to him?

I wouldn't play with him if he screamed at me to do it - that's just a temper tantrum and is best ignored. If he knows you'll play if he screams at you, he'll carry on screaming.

No won t play even if tlak to him as do dishes - will just get constant pulling at trousers etc

Nightmare!

I would set up a nice game with him and his toys, play for a few minutes and then say 'you carry on playing while I go and do the dishes, I'll be back to play in a little bit'. If he follows you, then say firmly, 'mummy can't play now, she has to do the dishes, you can play on your own for a bit'. After that ignore him if he moans. Remember, you're in charge, not him.

It's just a phase he's going through and once he sees that no matter how much he screams, you won't give in to him, he'll find something more interesting to do.

My ds (2.11) went through this until very recently, not screaming but non-stop "Mummy do it, mummy do it".

I started playing with him directly, then sitting with him not doing anything else but not actually playing iykwim, now he can often play for an hour or so on his own as long as I am close by but as least I can go online, make dinner etc.

Even now it can be a bit hit and miss though, but I know it won't last forever, there will be a time that he doesn't want a thing to do with me

Remember - this too shall pass.....

thanks for tips thought have tried similar already!!! to no avail whatsoever!

DS is 2.1 and has always been quite clingy, which actually is great in some ways - he never runs off from me when we are out for example.

But it is really trying at home. I've done similar to MrChristmasGoAway in that I'll start playing with him, then gradually withdraw if he gets absorbed in what he's doing. Any time he plays by himself nicely he gets tons of praise. And I make sure that when I do play with him I give him my full attention.

same really with my dd (2.6) bar the odd 5 minutes here and there. The only time I can "do" anything is if I put the tv on. I've tried all sorts of setting up/gradual retreating but to no avail.

Am hoping that when she goes to nursery in january for a couple of hours a week this will improve.

Hope so as I am now at that point where I am feeling burn out - hence me being here on MN whilst dd sits and watches Numberjacks