If your 2.9 yo son was fixated on a TTT track set with Added Trains......

[colditz]

... Would you feel guilty about spending no quality time with him, just mumsnetting and proving meals and potty reminders? I am in the same room, open to his queries ("Can Ooo fix it, mummeeee?") and he is happy....

At least you're in the same room as him! My ds would disappear up to his room on his own and play with TTT Engine set!!!

I would actively encourage it!

teaches independence (in education jargon)
more time for Mummy (in MN jargon!)

Don't feel guilty! You are there for his every need should one arise! He's happy and learning to play independently and that's a very important skill to have!

Why feel guilty ?

Because I am making no effort whatsoever to Interact With My Child. I have left him to come and get me if he wants me.

Because I feel guilty when he plays on his own, I feel I should be constantly entertaining him, but I don't do it, I have never had to. He has always been happy with playing on his own.

enjoy that ability then.

I have a ds who is similar, and a dd who cannot entertain herself at all - needless to say ds is 'easier' to deal with.

ds1 often cannot spend a minute on his own, after a year of therapy can - on a good day- entertain himself appropriately independently for about 5 minutes max, but usually has to be directed the entire day - if he;s going to do anythihg non stimmy or destructive. ds2 plays very well alone (with tttt a lot as well), makes up very elaborate stories that he recites aloud (and I love!) Also plays very well with other children. Being able to play independently is a good skill, encourage it- go an join him for the odd 10 or 20 minutes- structure in time to do an odd picture or something if you feel you havent done enough. But if he's playing well I wouldn't worry about it.

He is also quite insistant that it is a sunny day (it's not, it's horrible here) as it is a sunny day on Balamory.

colditz - don't put this pressure on yourself! Why do we all feel we should be doing exciting and educational activities with our children 24 hours a day?! What you are doing is perfectly fine imo!

If he needs anything you are there - that's the important thing!

{whispers} confession ,I do this all the time with mine !! They are upstairs having a barbie and toy olympics, every so often I'll pass by and watch for a bit while doing some cleaning in the bathroom, tidying or sorting the laundry. They play well, together or independently, with very little input from me, always have tbh . Bad mother ?

My dd has been like this from an early age- she loves being left to her own devices. I reckon if you are in the room you're doing a good job

Message withdrawn

Lizs- you sound like the perfect mother! My mum never played with us much and I have brilliant childhood memories and me, my sister and brother playing monopoly, marbles etc and of my sister and me playing schools in our rooms and wendy houses in the garden

Gor bless train sets and all who invented them! My ds is now 5 and still plays by himself with his train set while 'bad' mummy does the 1001 things you can get done while a child is happily and safely occupied!

Think of it as child lead development. I mean if a baby can decide when he does/doesn't need to eat, surely a child know when it's time to play with TTT.

And what is it withThomas. My girl is obsessed with him. She would sleep with the silly thing if I would let her.