Is anyone's 5 year old super needy?

[sallykiii]

DS 5, NT, quite bright, gets lots of one to one from DH me and DGP.
But seems to be so reluctant to play by himself and will just follow DH and I round the house asking us to play constantly.
We cannot get stuff done and I also have a back condition that means I need to spend part of the day stretching etc.
He's a covid baby, got used to having us round and we have had a few close relatives die in the last year which I think has not helped.
I need to get stuff done as we can't cram it into the hour after he goes to sleep (8.30 if we are lucky), but I feel mum guilt as I think he thinks we don't want to spend time with him etc? Anyone got one like this?

Get him to do things with you? Wash potatoes, “dust” when you are cleaning, wash up with you, clean the sink in the bathroom… of course he wants to hang with you but share with him what you are doing, is he in school?

Sounds like he gets plenty of attention so I think your fear of him thinking you don't want to play with him is irrational. Just be balanced.

He is. Yes we do that, he helps DH prepare tea, everything else he gets a bit silly with but working on helping round house.

Yeah I think it is a little irrational. Maybe only child guilt comes into it a lot.
We have a dog he loves, but we hear a lot of the only child criticism

It sounds like your child is seeking to replicate the same situation he got used to since covid, especially after such significant changes, like the lockdown and family losses. It’s natural for him to want your attention, but it’s also important to help him develop independence.
As a Parenting coach, I can suggest that you start setting gentle boundaries by explaining that you need time for to complete various tasks, and reassure him that you or your husband are always around if he needs you. Offer him activities he can do independently, and create a routine where you define "together time" so he will feel that need is being seen and met. whenever he shows even the slight of independence, verbalise it to make him aware you have noticed it and you are proud of him. if he will feel he gets the attention when he is independent he will over time want to show more of the behaviour that gets him the personal attention.

Changes are not easy and they take time but try to maintaining consistency, you’re teaching him valuable life skills while also taking care of yourself and your home.