Ideas of things to do with my 5YO dd

[MascaraOHara]

dd thinks I don't spend anytime with her in her words "mummy, you never play with me". She's probably right in that I rarely sit down and focus myself on doing something with her.

Can I have ideas of games/things we can do so that she feels I am spending time with her and she is getting ym undivided attention.

I will quietly admit I don't think I really enjoy doing this and I'm always nipping to clean the look, turn dishwasher on, make a cup of tea during our games... I don't mean to. it's just we only spend weekends together really (quality time) and I have to clean the house do washing/ironing etc as well... I'm quite ashamed writing that down actually. no wonder she thinks I never play with her.

To put it into context though, we do have lots of cuddles, read books, watch tv, go out (alot) together etc so it's not like I don't spend any time with her but I can understand that it might feel that way to her.

We play games with dd's animal (cuddly ones)

EG circus, school etc, dd is teacher or ringmaster, the animals and I get bossed around

We play with her sylvanian families for ages

also I spend a considerable amount of time being a patient while she does a good impersonation of Beverley Allit.

Also dancing (lots), playing catch, playing with teh dog etc

lol, we do that kind of stuff.. play variouos scenarios with cuddly toys - I just can't apply myself. she does love it when I do. bum, I feel pants.

is she very girly and into sticker books, glitter, making things etc? You could set aside an hour a week to do girly crafty things
Or baking

but the rest of the time reading books, watching something togther all snuggled up, going to the park and playing catch etc is all my idea of quality time and it sounds like you do all that already

oh yes baking a good one
In fact any cooking
she is chopping queen!

we do baking but I take over (control freak) and she gets bored and wanders off.

god I am a total wanker.

off to boil head.

Oh don't Mascara

I am the same unless I force myself, I do find once I get into it it is really enjoyable though

My 8yr old DD still wants me to play pretend games with her... she has got somewhat more tolerant of me multi-tasking with my chores, especially if I can manage to work them into the game (eg pirates deck swabbing could get the kitchen floor cleaned. And our ship's cook is always drunk so the cap'n ie me has to make lunch).

One thing that helps me is to remember that these years when you are their favoured playmate are all too short... they'll be blase teens before too much longer. Its just that sometimes the minutes seem so long!

I will admit to having fallen asleep more than once when she's playing 'the one about...' for the umpteenth time

Hide and seek is quite a good one... if you're crafty you can do odds and ends while you're counting to 100.

TV watching and ironing can go together well.

Mascara, I think you must be me. And even now, I am here on MN, while she's making some wonderful artistic creation.

you're right EmsMum, the time will be gone soon enough.

Orchard Toy games are good...Shopping List Game etc. Could play shops whilst yr in the kitchen cooking....get her a till and every time you get an ingredients you have to buy it? Play doh? Make pretend food? Buy bead sets and make jewelry?

I only have boys, so living in a world of building and castles, but I think being in the same room as they play and generally chatting counts for a lot with girls...that's what I did as a little girl. I'd play at the table and Mum would get me to help stir things or tidy...sort of set me on the path of playing and then potter on with her own things but be on hand.

all good ideas.

I think I need to apply myself more.

Board games - tedious for parent but so enjoyable for child

My dd loves helping me - sweeping leaves in the garden, hoovering, floor mopping, cleaning windows (makes me feel like Cinderella's wicked step-mother writing this, but she really does enjoy it). She also loves having a "girls' day out" as she calls it which basically involves us going to the shops, looking at girly hair accessories and things and then going to a cafe. Actually I don't think it matters what you do - it's the one on one attention that she loves. I'll be getting her started on Christmas cards soon - she can make them and I'll write them.

My 5yo (ds) loves playing that shopping list game, ker plunk and snap. He's also into playing restaurants, where he writes out a little menu for me and then 'cooks' it on his cooker and presents me with a selection of plastic food!
I think as long as you play with them, they're pretty content - whatever it is.