How much time do you spend in the same room as your DCs?

[Margerykemp]

I mean when you are at home are you always/mostly in the same rooms as your DCs?

Does this depend on whether you live in a flat/big/small house and what age DCs are?

I'm saying this as eldest DC is at home but I haven't saw or heard from him for at least a couple of hours and it feels kind of strange.

My son is 3 so we are mostly in the same room. We do have a fairly small house so even if I'm in the dining room or kitchen and he's playing in the front room he's never far.

But he does play in his room upstairs sometimes on his own.

How old is your child?

3 yr old DTs.

Me or DH in same room (or in the garden) with them about 80% of the time. We have a playroom off the kitchen so I can hear (but not see) them when they are in there.

I only work when they go quiet!

Not work - worry.

as little as I can

Only when they are hungry (teenagers)

Too much, they're happiest when they're 2cm away. They're 8 and 4. I encourage them to play elsewhere.

Not that much - apart from meal times. DS (11) tends to like watching absolute rubbish on TV (Simpsons etc) which I can't stand. We only have one family child TV so I seem to spend my time in the kitchen or in our 'office' where we have a family PC. I constantly suggest board games etc or a film that we might all enjoy but the answer is 'no'. I have always resisted the idea of children having their own tv but the reality is that I am the one skulking around in my own bedroom whilst DS lords it in the sitting room . We have a fairly large house so there is plenty of room but I am not sure I have got the 'allocation of space' (can't think of a better expression expression) quite right.

5yo dd is happy to play in her room for ages on her own but will occasionally come and check in or I go and join her. 10mo ds complains loudly if I cross to the other side of the room for 3 seconds. He has to be in touching distance at all times. He's currently perched on my feet building a tower out of blocks.

Three older ones (mid/late teens) - when they are hungry, want money or want a lift somewhere generally!

Youngest DD (3½), probably half the time. She is mostly to be found outside when it's not raining, or in her playroom when it is. She's always very happy just pottering about making up odd games or dance routines to whatever song she's made up that day.