How much do you play with your 7 month old?

[HubbaHubbaHubbaInHoobLand]

thats it really. Dont know if i play with him enough. he is quite happy playing by himself but i do go join him to do some basic teaching ie shapes, colours etc

My twins are 6 months. I'm with them all day so I play as much as I can but they're pretty content to play on their own.

Be warned in my experience you can play with your children too much or do too much with them. I have always done stuff with my children and spent loads of time playing with them. I always did as the books said and waited to do all my jobs when they were napping so when they were up and awake they had my full attention.

I now have a 4 yr and a 6 yr old who have no idea how to play alone and it is my fault for doing much with them. I never introduced the tv till my eldest started school(which I thought was the right thing!!) and they hate TV or DVD's as it involves not talking and sitting still!!

Honestly if I had another one I would put them in front of the TV from a few months old and do jobs whilst they were awake so they learnt how to self entertain.

I would say this is my biggest parenting mistake to date!! I think all these books saying play play play is setting kids up for not being able to entertain themselves and sorry but when they are older and dont sleep during the day you can't save all the jobs till they are in bed and play with them every waking second. Mine just scream and shout at me to play all the time in weekends in holidays. Lots of my friends have chill out days which involves watching DVD's or lazy sundays where the kids play and the mum and dads do jobs but no chance in our house!!!!

Oh I agree Peppa! I played with and entertained DS1 (now 6) all the time. He's lovely but high maintenance and finds it hard to entertain himself. I played far less with DS2 (now 3) and he's brilliant at playing and entertaining himself. My mum always says that a bit of 'healthy neglect' is good for children, I don't remember her playing with me and my DB that much and we've turned out fine . DS3 is 11 weeks so I'm sure I'll be following her advice, in any case he's got two older brothers to play with!

Phew feel bit better now as he loves tv and i can pretty much get on with housework etc whilst he either watches tv or sits and plays with his toys.

My mum said its good he can amuse himself. makes life easier for me in the long run. But was just feeling guilty that i do leave him to play and entertain himself the majority of the time. Thanks ladies.

Hmm. While I do think it is good for them to learn to play on their own, shouldn't be for the majority of the time, especially at this young age. Limit TV time as much as possible- it quickly escalates as they get older. Interactive play is very important for learning as well as language development at this stage. Suggest trying a mix of both. If in kitchen for example, move toys in there while you work and chat and sing to her as you go. It may help to have structured play time- set aside some time to do chores but also for when you stop what you are doing and play, read, sing together. Agree you need to get on and do other things too- kids do need to learn you can't drop everything all the time to play with them- but right now playing and interacting with you is key for your child's growth on so many different levels.

When DD2 was 6/7 months she was quite happy to chill under her baby gym or bounce in the jumperoo, as she has got older (just turned 9 months) she has got a lot more interactive, so now we spend lots of time sitting on the floor playing with different toys (she has a box of lots of different types of smallish toys' rattles, balls, blocks, books, links. musical shakers etc so she plays with that mostly and she is becoming more interested in learning to explore her environment (no crawling yet though) and grabbing everything in reach (including her big sisters toys) so I supervise that.

We still use the baby gym occasionally she just sits on it now to play or looks at the pictures on the mat.

We also do physical play, bouncing her on my knee, tickles, having her hold onto my fingers to stand-up, belly raspberries etc.

Just mix it up, a bit of time focused on her, then a bit of time for jobs etc.

DD is also 7.5 months. When in a good mood ie. after nap and feed she is v happy sitting on mat playing with toys independently, either whilst I'm in the room or if I go in the kitchen to make a drink (she can't crawl). I take her to rooms with me whilst doing chores and chat away. I interactive play when she's getting crankier to keep her entertained. It's a balance that works for us.

My baby is almost 7 months old too and I was wondering about this same thing. I do the same as Loislane78. I do a little structured play with him during the day where I try to get him to spend time on his stomach etc. and practice sitting up unsupported. Sometimes when he's cranky and tired we read his books or look out the window at birds/ cars etc. or dance to music which he loves. I was worried that I wasn't doing enough but I think that the balance we have is pretty good and, like my DH says regularly, 'when we were babies our mothers were way too busy with other children and housework etc. to spend every waking moment entertaining us and it doesn't seem to have done us any discernible harm so no need to stress unduly about it.'

My ds is 7 months old. He is very happy being in his jumperoo after his morning bottle which gives me chance to go get showered and dressed etc. He enjoys his own company and i know he is safe in his "roo" whilst i sort myself out. After his breakfast, wash and nap we either go out for a walk, go to a baby group, meet a friend with their baby or i get on with jobs whilst he entertains himself either sat up playing with his toys, in his highchair with toys and cbeebies or back in his "roo". I am constantly interacting with him and doing silly things making him laugh. I usually do most of our playtime in the afternoon (after his second nap and before his tea time). We play with toys and during play i try to teach him shapes/colours, names of objects ie book, ball, rattle etc. I also do various songs with him with the actions i.e. row row row your boat, blow rasberries on him, tickle him which has him in fits of giggles, give him time sat up with minimal support now, time to roll, tummy time and am currently teaching him how to clap.

I feel we have a good balance. He is happy playing on his own, and gets mummy time too.