when do they start to amuse themselves?

[TopoftheMorning]

that's all really. ds is 2.10 and just about manage 10 mins playing in his room in the mornings. the rest of the day it is "mummy,come". There is only so much building "houses" out of the sofa cushions I can take!

Depends on personality IME.
My ds1 (3) has always been capable of amusing himself while my 4yo dd has always been much more demanding.

If I were you I would probably be focusing on getting him to 'help' with everyday tasks rather than joining in his games.

I'd go with being really boring, too. My children are always a nightmare on the first day I'm alone with them after the grandparents have been to stay. They've had non-stop adult attention and suddenly there is mummy saying she won't play all day! They flop around whining and complaining they are bored. After a while they twig that this is more boring than going off and finding something to do.

Also I wouldn't expect him to play in his room this young. They want to be where you are. Ds2 (2.3) follows me around the house, but he does amuse himself - he plays with what he finds in each place.

I have a playroom downstairs (well, one end of the living room partitioned off by a sofa) which helps - he'll play in there while I'm in the kitchen. It helps if I keep it very tidy and just get one box of toys out.

thanks all, i can definitely do boring! have lots of chores to do tomorrow so will try to get him into helping there.