House so quiet w/one child! It feels not fair on him!

[Thefirstime]

Our house is so quiet, maybe too much for my 4y/o boy

it’s very boring - he has toys and garden but constantly wants to watch tv!!!

his dad is at work until just after 5 each day.. he comes home from school and watched tv then on the weekend I’m trying to do more stuff/activities..

what’s the answer here??

dog? I don’t want another baby!!

no one seems to do play dates.. so neither do we..

If people do come round when you ask them and enjoy themselves, couldn't you just keep asking them?

It doesn't really matter if they invite you back or not, if it's an experience you want for your son.

But also, I don't think you need to overthink this OP. A 4 year old having a bit of quite time after a day at school is no bad thing. If/ when he wants to do more activities, he will let you know. He's so little now - I would just let him be!

An hour's TV after school is fine! But do invite friends over. We try and have various DC friends over once a week, several don't reciprocate (usually due to both parents working FT) but it's not a problem, I'm very happy to have them here. You could go to the park, soft play, swimming etc too.

Playdates don't have to be reciprocal. We live in an area of the country where housing is often overcrowded or temporary or families seem not to host playdates for cultural reasons. We invite anyway if my DC wants to have that child for a playdate. I hold playdates for my child's benefit not to get invitations back. My child knows that some friends can't have friends round and they're fine with that.

I'd suggest a board game or play with toys together for half hour then let him watch tv. Or do tv and one of you plays with him a bit after tea.

My ds is an only and it's hard he struggles to entertain himself so wants tv or switch or iPad unless we are doing something with him

Nothing wrong with a quiet house. Our 10yo only child likes having friends over but is also happy when they go and things are calm. Lots of families are too busy to reciprocate but just picking one DC up is doable for them.

He’s also a home body like DH (1 of 2) and FIL (1 of 6). The only weekday clubs he will do are after school clubs.

It's nice to have a pet though. DS adores our cat.

• park trips after school
• occasional trip to get a drink and cake after school at a cafe
• playroom or play area at home with lots of toys he can access easily
• consider any clubs or activities he can do eg swimming
• invite people for play dates (sorry but they are a thing everywhere)
• activities at home with you like baking or cooking or crafts
• bit of tv

One of DS's friends always comes here and we've never been to his house. Doesn't bother me, his mum is lovely and we get on, she said that she can't do playdates as she has four other kids.

Also, I think it's important for DS (an only) to have friends in his own space, playing with his things, eating and chatting with us. It's important for him in developing skills in sharing, negotiating and flexibility as he can still find it hard when someone is in 'his' space but doing something in a way that he/we wouldn't usually do.

Some brilliant suggestions here - thank you

Audiobooks are a lovely alternative to screen time. They don't have the weird hypnotic grumpy-making quality that screens seemed to have for my son. They build a love of literature. My very social only child loved them. The easiest no-fuss delivery mechanism was an old boom box.