Be honest - how much time to you spend playing/interacting with your little one/s??

[mandymoo]

I am on a massive guilt trip as i just dont seem to find the time to sit down and just play with dd (who is 2.8). I am also a bit frustrated as she doesnt play on her own much so i am trying to get her to do that. Also i am starting a new job on wed (2 days a week one week and 3 days the other) and am feeling soooo guilty. How much time do you spend with your child/ren?? I take her to groups and we go to the beach and stuff but just dont do much of the sitting down in the lounge and playing. Do I have an idealistic view or is this just how it is??

No tantrums Mandymoo?

katymac - no tantrums!!

Still need to make more of an effort to sit down and just play with dd tho.

thanks for advice X

Glad to make suggestion (always make them not many people take them)
TV is great (but I think it needs rationing - like sweeties)

Katymac - ref toddler groups - should i go along with dd when she grabs me and pulls me around or should i refuse and try and get her to play on her own at the groups??

Why not put some toys (that she likes) on the floor near you. That way you are there and she can show you.

It's always a good idea to ask her to show you stuff and to ask her to explain things to you.

Go with her once then say "I'm having a cup of tea and I'll play again when I've finished"

It might not help - but it might be worth a go?

thanks katymac - please come and live with us and be our personal childcarer!!!!

Could you afford me?

I just do what my mum did (all those years ago)

Katymac - how about as much chocolate as you can eat and white wine on tap??

I don't drink and I have a very expensive DH & DD to support (choc sounds good tho' esp tonite with my DD problems...)

don't drink??? You must be a modern day saint katymac!! How old is your dd?

No I just get ill when I do - she's 7.5

Haven't read the thread, just wanted to say cos this week I've felt guilty cos I've hardly "played" with 2 yr old dd myself and was feeling guilty... But it's the other way round, she has gone from being a very clingy baby/young toddler to being very good at playing by herself so it now has to be a conscious effort on my part to play with her! I'd say, cut out the guilt, it's a good thing for little ones to learn to amuse themselves and to enjoy their own company, but perhaps if you did set aside a certain amount of time, however short, to spend quality time with her it would help the rest of the time? Also, when you start work, perhaps you'll find it easier to spend quality time with her the rest of the time because you'll want to more? My imagination fails when it comes to "playing", so I find that just sitting reading her books is nice.

I don' spend time playing with DD as she is happier to play by herself however as i work evenings we spend all day togehter chatting about what she has seen on the telly, doing the housework and the shopping. We go to moms and tots three times a week and she has three nursery sessions a week where she gets to interact with other children. Fun at bathtime and bedtime stories. She will be going to nursery every afternoon in September which will give me quality time with her brother or sister when he/she arrives. She seems happy with this arrangement so i am not about to change it.