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SN children

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Original poster

Do your DCs play with toys?

21 replies

FlyingFig · 27/04/2012 10:47

DS (6) has a bedroom with plenty of toys and games that he just never plays with. I don't think he's even completed a jigsaw in his life, he shows zero interest in anything like that; never wants to draw, paint or be involved in any craft etc.

He will often have a brief yet intense interest in something, for example a marble run we bought him for his birthday, but once he's seen it in action he doesn't seem to see the point in getting it out again. Same with a Hornby train set he got for Christmas, he played with it solid on Boxing day but it's been in the box ever since with no interest in getting it set up again. I suppose I could be more proactive in encouraging him to use his toys, is there any point? Or do I just accept he's just not that bothered? Or is it just a general 'boy' thing?

Computers and consoles are another matter all together and I spend a lot of my time trying to limit these, there seems to be no balance at all.

I'm interested to know if I'm not alone in having a child that has zero interest in toys and games, I have two older DDs who were toy/game/craft mad so it's been quite an eye-opener having DS

OP posts:

nothinginthefridge · 27/04/2012 11:13

I found it very difficult to get DS2 (now nearly 12) interested in any toys, jigsaws - in fact most of the things that you mentioned. He did play a little with lego. He will play board games with us, but then we have the not winning situation to deal with.

I found that doing practical things, where he can see the result has usually worked best for him. Baking, even cleaning or gardening. I know that's not playing, but it meant that I could spend some time with him 'doing' something rather than him just playing on the computer or xbox.

He even helped us decorate our staircase the other week, and actually made a very good job of it too! He was furious if the paint 'dribbled' and would see to it immediately.

He has his own toolbox (£6 from IKEA) and if there is any simple DIY task needing doing, he's on the job!

Baking may be a good start as you can make this quite 'crafty' without him knowing it. I know it's not exactly something he can do completely on his own, but once say biscuits are made, you could leave him to decorate them??

UnChartered · 27/04/2012 11:25

DD (4.10yrs) has a room full of unplayed-with toys

she uses her dressing-up clothes, but to dress up in then carry on about her usual business, she still hasn't taken her christmas presents upstairs - put some of them in her room a few weeks ago, but i found them neatly stacked outside her room...

Original poster

FlyingFig · 27/04/2012 11:29

Ah see the whole not winning is a problem, he will sometimes play the electronic version of Monopoly but he has to be the Banker if he's to join in.

Cleaning and baking are good ideas, he's saving up for a Wii game at the moment (there it is again, damned consoles!) so maybe a bit of pocket money would be an incentive to get stuck in? Or is that bordering on bribery?!

I chuckled when you said your DS was furious when the paint dribbled, that's the sort of thing that would nark my DS! Lovely that he's got his own toolbox and helps out, gives me some hope that my DS could learn some practical skills as he gets older

I might try with some biscuits, half the reason he won't get involved with cake making is the fact the whisk makes a noise, puts him right off, but simple biscuits shouldn't pose a problem my useless baking skills might though!

OP posts:

Original poster

FlyingFig · 27/04/2012 11:29

Uncharted, it would be interesting to see if our DCs noticed if their toys weren't there anymore!

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Triggles · 27/04/2012 11:47

DS2 has to wear his ear defenders if we're using the mixer while baking (or the food processor, or the blender ).

He plays with specific toys, but has a tendency to have very one dimensional play with it - such as lining it up, or re-enacting a tv programme. He has "quiet time" every evening at bedtime in his room where he can play with his toys or look at books. There are no electronic toys in his room, so that's not an option. He usually plays or reads for about 30 minutes, and then he tells us he's ready to be tucked in (for bed). We still use a monitor in his room, so it does give us an idea what he's playing although lots of times he is reading out loud or singing.

Ben10NeverAgain · 27/04/2012 12:01

I think that we have the same child Flying.

His room is like a toy shop as DH has tried and tried to find things that he will play with. Lego doesn't work, marble run occasionally, Bakugan just get collected and listed, action figures - nope, Scalextric occasionally but only with us etc etc. We even have an air hockey table in the cellar.

Nerf has been v successful. Any console or PC. He has asked for Skylanders for his birthday in June which he will be getting as well as a Fliker scooter thing from GPs and more marble run from PILs. Apart from that he wants Marvel lego (which DH will have to make and then it will just sit there).

Occasionally he will bake with me but the mixer is a bit of a problem noise-wise.

nothinginthefridge · 27/04/2012 12:12

ben10 - I'd forgotten about Nerf - yes my DS plays with that, even now at 12.

Ben10NeverAgain · 27/04/2012 12:16

We have 3 Nerfs and the target! I find the ammo everywhere. DH and DS love it! :) DH is 36

Original poster

FlyingFig · 27/04/2012 16:24

The one dimensional play sounds familiar Triggles. Whenever we have an appointment anywhere, DS goes straight for the toy box but he plays with the toys like your DS does (makes me look like a right liar when I tell the paed/GP etc that he doesn't play with toys, then they see him rummaging around in the box!).

Ben10 DS has a Nerf gun that someone bought him but it's almost as big as he is and he can't work it, I will try a smaller one and see how he gets on. Like your DH I've bought so many toys in the hope DS will take to them, anything to curb his obsession with computer games!

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Ben10NeverAgain · 27/04/2012 17:58

this one is great :)

Ben10NeverAgain · 27/04/2012 18:02

We also have this one The first one has a "laser" light that you point at the "victim". Much hilarity ensues except when I am the victim

Original poster

FlyingFig · 27/04/2012 20:19

They look a better size for mini fig, might even be able to encourage him into the garden with those!

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saladsandwich · 27/04/2012 21:40

my ds at the beginning of the month starte playing with his toys :) befoe it was all cars, lined up, driven while watching the wheels, parked up, very little noise from him, this month he is playing with his octopod constantly and he as actually picked the figures up this week and hes talking in his play (sounds like 6 conversations at once, sounds very very odd) but its a massive leap for him hes 3 and half.

he does reinact things with his toys alot though and his play is generally all copied but im glad hes playing with something other than a bloody car

peekabooby · 27/04/2012 22:58

ds 8 only wants to play consoles, we have added the family trainer mat, and fit board to the wii and Kinect and tony Hawkes skateboard to Xbox to make them more active.

He used to play with his castle and figures which involved lining up, then knocking them down in order, playing that was fun I tell you....I wasn't allowed to knock down just to stand my figures up.

Jigsaws, lego, craft he will do but only with cajoling, he just isn't bothered.

Baking, he agrees as soon as I start mixing, he asks can he just be the taster and leaves me to it.

Nerf, every now and again

Another electronic monopoly banker here, winning games are out apart from cluedo, If we play as teams he can cope a little better with losing, mums fault we lost

He used to love chess until he was 6ish, started to refuse to play against anyone but himself, then lost interest. He has recently started to play again but if he starts losing to many pieces, he gets the hump and I will admit to then just letting him win.

We bought him moshi monsters membership so this is his current obsession,but nothing overtakes Zelda, his obsession for the last three years.

yawningmonster · 29/04/2012 09:41

Ds designs long complicated play scenes with his toys but then sits back and dictates the sequence to someone else (usually I draw the short straw) to re-inact for him. He likes the idea of playing, he has some imaginative ideas in regards to how to play but can't actually participate in it himself very well.

Along the same lines as not coping with not winning, d.s. also doesn't cope if whoever his human pawn is gets the very, very, changeable instructions wrong...I love my son but my heart sinks when I hear "mummy I've got a game where you got to......."

slacklucy · 29/04/2012 11:34

no absolutly no interst in toys either. He is almost 10 & over the years i've lost count of the number of unpopened toys i've given away, sold at a car boot sale or re-used as presents.
The only thing he LOVES are his soft toys.
Although just lately he has got in to his IPOD & the laptop but he cant spell or read so just spends hours looking at whatever random stuff he finds or games or videos thta his brother downloads for him.

Ben10NeverAgain · 29/04/2012 12:13

Oh dear. DH has bought DS Legoland and Lego Racers for the PC. 2 ancient PC games for 99p each. My netbook is no longer sacred. Unfortunately DH's PC is too new to play them. I can't see me being left to my own devices with my netbook very much

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 29/04/2012 12:16

No interest in toys at all, was just trying to buy her a present as I've been away and was hard to find anything she would like

UnChartered · 29/04/2012 12:19

i'm still coming to terms with the fact DD doesn't play with toys, she's got some lovely stuff, but (like i said upthread) she doesn't use them

i asked her if perhaps we should pass them on to her younger cousin, so they'd be played with

her reply..

'don't take my dolls house, i'll have nowhere to hand my dressing gown' - sort of sums it all up really

UnChartered · 29/04/2012 12:19

*hang not hand

Ben10NeverAgain · 29/04/2012 13:15

Well there is a lot of sense in that answer Uncharted I have tried many times to de-toy his room but he has huge need to have the toys, even if he doesn't play with them. Going to label his trofast boxes with pics of the toys inside in the hope it might encourage him to play.

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