How much do your kids "play"

[awaf]

I had a 6 yo only. We have loads of toys and games but lately all he wants to do is play the iPad or watch tv. I have limited this and try to encourage him to do Lego, knee, trains play board games with me which he does but his default is electronics!

I wonder if this is because he is our only and has no one to play with ( but he did seem to play on his own quite happily until recently and also we
do lots of play dates and he does loads of after school clubs) or whether people with a couple of kids are experiencing the same thing

Thanks

Not at all. Never did. DS2 has sn and just makes a mess all the time. DS1 was never into Lego etc. They like playing a board game with me sometimes.

They all love TV and computer games. Easy to do, and requiring very little effort. I don't think it's anything to do with being a singleton. You can have a roomful of kids, and they're all playing on their phones and tablets.

I have a 6 yo not had! And knee is Knex .. blooming phone autocorrect!

I think it’s probably just what he’s used to. Mine is about to turn 6 and though she’d watch more tv if we’d let her, she’s only allowed it after 5:30 on school days. Before then she mostly plays outside or inside with toys or we do homework. She does watch more on weekends, but still plays lots too and then we’re out most of the day. She does have a baby brother but she’s obviously been on her own most of her life and he’s too little to play with. Putting strict limits on screens seems to have worked. She knows I absolutely won’t budge and let her watch it more often, so it’s less of a battle now.

Mine play non stop and always have but I did have 5 kids in 5 years! There pretty much always been a gang of them so always someone to play with.

I have 2 DC of similar ages but they rarely play together although they do play quite a bit on their own. They will however both pick devices/iPads over any other indoor option - my DS especially. So we do limit the DC on tablet-time (hour max in the evening). Cousins are allowed unlimited screen time and it's been noticed in the family they are far less able to entertain themselves / play. This might be an unfair observation but despite my gamer-past I am trying to limit electronics until they're more unavoidable. You might find your DS happier to play if there's no other option for a while?

Both DC will be adamant that the only thing they want to do is TV/tablet.

When I remain firm, DC2 after a few minutes of trying, moves on and finds something to play.

DC1 does not play by himself. When they are both around, he will engage his sibling in rough-and-tumble play. When by himself, he will eventually give up and read. But not play by himself.

My ds is 10
During the week he can have screen time - Nintendo etc AFTER he has done his homework and eaten his tea, so he usually gets 1.5 hours. Computers off by 8.30, in bed by 9
Saturdays, 3 hours screen time in the moning, three hours out and then three hours in the afternoon only after school project is done, and if it’s cold or raining so we can’t go outside.

Sunday he spends with his dad so probably 9 hours screen time

Ds1 has never done much imaginative play alone but has done lots of solo duplo/Lego from young and now reads. Ds2 and 3 both did more 'playing' with toys like cars, but usually would prefer to be together.

Even with siblings, if I let them all except maybe dc3 would be glued to screens, or whinging about why they aren't glued to screens. We therefore limit the time and take turns pretty strictly, mostly to weekends and the older ones get four 15 minute 'vouchers' each week once they've done their chores, that they can use any time during the following week - but once they're gone, that's it.

have you got any playmobil? little people/small world play is good at this age.

My ds never played, but he has since been diagnosed autistic which explains it as he is very real world and doesn't 'imagine' things. Tablets/iPads weren't around when he was little so he didn't have any screen time. He used to draw or mess about with whatever his current obsession was.
I have 2 younger dd's and they play all the time. Very imaginative, mostly small world type play together. They use iPads and enjoy YouTube like most kids, but it's mostly when tired. They prefer to play and come off of their own accord.

Mine is like this too and has been since about 6, he's nearly 10 now, still the same. Also an only until recently.

We have to ban electronics to get him to do anything else and then he'll flop and insist he's bored and won't start anything unless someone is doing it with him. Occasionally if we refuse he will go off and draw or read but that's all.

He has never ever done small world stuff even with me when he was younger.

He is much happier, IME, when he is with other children. I wish he'd had a sibling when younger but it wasn't to be.

My kids are only allowed to play with their iPad once a week. Only on Saturdays. They usually play with their toys or they would go out at the park to play with other kids. We always limit them playing with their gadgets.