How to encourage the DCs to play on their own

[Lagoonablue]

I have a 4 yr old and an 8 yr old. They play together a little bit but it often ends in drama or rows. Neither of them play alone very well. When I was a kid I would often play with my toys alone, making up games, using my imagination. As parents we play with them a lot. They are constantly asking us to play games, read books, jump on the trampoline with them. Unless we are finding activities for them then they will just watch tv, go on ipad.

I don't playing, it's part of being a parent but they are really relentless at the moment and I do think it would do them good to rely on their own resources once in a while. When I suggest they either play together or alone they never want to. Occasionally one of them goes off to play but usually because I have not been able to, cooking or whatever so shows they can do it if necessary.

Am I being unrealistic to expect this once in a while?

Give them a time limit so they know it's not all day. Set a timer for half an hour and say thry need to occupy themselves for that time without screens then together you will do blah blah.

Give them specific things to do while you're in a different room eg to draw pictures for grandma while you are upstairs.

Good idea. Thanks. Will try that now as it happens as they are both requesting my input and am trying to eat breakfast!

I'm working on this too. Mine are 4 and 7. This summer is the first that they have really gone off by themselves and done stuff, prior to this there has been lots of nagging for things to do/play with me/I'm bored etc. They seem to think that if I'm not ostensibly rushing around doing something then I should be available to play with them!

I've imposed an hour of 'entertain yourself' time which we have stretched over the holidays and they are really improving. I've been very clear that there will be no interruptions because I'm having some quiet time and they need to get on with it. I've praised when they've stuck to it but not gone overboard because what I'm asking isn't that unrealistic. And tv/computers are banned - it's time for playing not staring at a screen.

We are getting there. DD (7) struggled more with it initially. She's quite extroverted and talks a lot so she finds being on her own quite hard but is definitely improving.

I'd really recommend a set period of time and just working on it. Some kids do it quite naturally - my younger one will play on his own when his sister is at school but when she's there they both expect input and whilst I'm happy to do some playing or games I'm not a children's entertainer so they need to do stuff for themselves.

Great thanks for the ideas. The set time for play is a great idea. I need to introduce this structure. My two like structure!

At the moment they want to go on the trampoline but want me to watch them do it.