How Do You Have Fun with Your Kids Every Day?

didn't even read the other responses. Sorry, Moms.

I think he needs a friend, a buddy to play with! He would learn those all-important social skills.....& you would get a break.

Preschool is all about socialization & learning coping skills. You are already covering the basics......so that's all he needs! Find a friend for him!

I LOVED incorporating playing in water (even if its just a large pan of warm water on the kitchen floor) and painting!

Oh! Puzzles were also VERY fun! Still are actually!

Ohhh! And TRAINS! Lots and LOTS of TRAINS!

If it makes you feel any better I was a stay at home mom to 3 kids and I never really liked playing with them. I enjoyed taking them to parks and museums, zoos, etc. and I loved reading to them and cuddling with them but I wasn't a get down on the floor kind of mom. I made sure they had lots of playmates and interesting toys and activities to keep them busy.
What helped ME stay sane was to connect with other moms (which wasn't easy at first, I'm kind of shy and not really a joiner.) But I'd say in your case it is crucial because you just have one child. It's a LOT more fun to go to the park or zoo or whatever if you go with another mom or group of moms. Your son will then have someone to play with and you'll have some adult companionship. Try a mom's group, mommy and me classes, etc. to get started :)

We have all been there. Right now if I have to play Strawberry Shortcake one more time with my 2 year old, I may go insane!! We try to mix it up a bit. Cookie sheets and magnets. It makes the magnet letters portable. My 2 year loves this. Spin art is messy, but fun. Instead of a fancy spin art machine, we use an old salad spinner with a coffee filter inside to color. Sidewalk chalk. Get some pvc pipe for the cars...they make great tunnels. Once I set up a tunnel ramp, both my 5 year old and 2 year old will play independently for at least an hour. Sometimes I fill a big tub or bowl with water and let my daughter have some water play. If the weather is good we do this outside, but I have also been known to put the bowl in the tub and let her play in her undies. Story time at the library may help mix things up. String noodles. Get something with a larger hole. You can dye noodles with alcohol and food coloring. At 2 he will need help, but he will enjoy stringing it and making necklaces. My kids love to glue...anything. So sometimes it's glue sticks with old magazines (my daughter just rips out the pictures) and sometimes, they just glue cotton balls to paper. Stickers are endless hours of fun for my 2 year old. I watch that activity pretty well, so we don't have any issues. Sometimes we build forts to read in. Do some real cooking. My 2 year old loves to bake with me. I fill the measuring cups and she puts it in the bowl. She also gets to "help" me turn on the mixer. Both of my kids love to cook with me.

Sometimes we will go under the covers with a flashlight and pretend we are camping. Other times I will just turn on the radio and we will dance around his room with his instruments for hours. We also play trains, blocks, cars trucks etc. My son is 5 so he gives orders on how we play. I can only be the girl trains or girl cars. (LOL) When I really don't feel like playing with him I think of something a friend once said to me. She said she can't believe how lucky she is to be able to stay home and play with her kids every day. Don't get me wrong there are still times that I don't feel like playing with him, but I do because it makes him happy. Next year he will be in kindergarten and I will probably be begging him to play with me. Don't feel like a bad mommy- trust me you are the only one that feels that way!

Don't forget that your child needs down time. He doesn't need to be busy playing and having fun and learning learning learning every waking moment. Not only is it all right that you don't always want to play with him and that you don't always have fun with him, but you don't HAVE to always play with him.

Let your child have some time where there's nothing planned. He needs free time play that isn't so structured otherwise you're both going to burn out. And he needs to learn to entertain himself and have fun on his own without having to rely on an adult to supply it all for him.

In your schedule, I don't see any time where he gets to just do his own thing and you can do your own thing for a while. Of course you're bored. All you're doing is child's games. If you have friends with children then set up a play date where you and a friend can have some adult conversation over coffee or a drink while the kids play in the backyard and you both make lunch and plan a girls night out.

When he was little we did lots of forts from what ever we had - pillows, sheets, blankets, towels, cardboard boxes - one of our more elaborate forts used one of those bendy extension ladders, leaves/snow outside.
We go for walks on the beach and fly kites.
I guess it's not playing exactly, but we still read out loud every day (he's 12 now). On days when my voice gives out, my son will read out loud to me.

decorating cookies and art projects broke up the boredom for me, though it is more work.

have you tried shaving creme on the driveway, then hosing it off? also, coloring in the bubble solution? we also went on scavenger hunts around the block(i went first to make a list of things she would totally find). The kids wanted to come which let us meet them.

Oh 2 year old boys are so much fun. My son is now 12 and I have a very difficult time having fun with him now- it is sad. Somethings we have always enjoyed doing (and still do) is sports related.Most of the stuff you can play in the house unless you have a no ball playing rule then go out in the backyard. I played catch-with everything-baseballs-you can use soft nerf balls too (with and without gloves)soft squishy larger balls, bouncy balls, footballs, tennis balls,etc) kicking soccer balls around, bouncing balls, shooting hoops, racing, etc. I frequently am a hoop for the kids to shoot into. We use a soft ball for this activity and sometimes the hoop doesnt stay still so the giggle like crazy trying to get those balls in the hoop. Then they can be the hoop too! Bike riding learning to skate, jump rope.(yep we did these inside too) Playing in the park-learning to swing alone and monkeybars, running through the playground equipment etc. . Play pretend and make up stories to go with it. Pretend to be a bear (this one is kinda nice when you are a bit tired) tell him about how bears hybernate (and rest on the couch) have him pretend to be another animal and see if he can sneak by you to get something without "waking the bear". Ofcourse from time to time you must be "woke up" and chase to poor scared bunny or dog or whatever animal he is :)
My son is my oldest and I realized after having my 2nd that he never learned to play alone. He always had someone playing something with him and doesn't "know how" or enjoy playing alone so looking back this was not good but I basically played with him every waking hour. My grandma used to joke that it is no wonder I get nothing done all I did was play with him (when at home) but I loved it! Once there were 2 it was hard to play with both all the time and ofcourse responsibilites grew as well.
It is very important to play with them and cherish it(Oh how I miss that 2-4 age...it is my favorite) but it is equally important for them to learn to play on their own too.
Play other places than the floor if it is uncomfortable. Play on the bed, at the table, on the couch -wherever. Also turn play into learning time too. Teach letters and numbers while tracing in shaving cream on the kitchen table or playing with play doh. Etc. Just turn up some music and dance around the house with him.
Turn things you have to do- or should- into play. Have him help stack cans as you put groceries away, rinse dishes after you wash them or have him rinse before putting them in the dishwasher. I used to have the girls match up the lids to all the plastic storage containers...that helped with shapes and motorskills, matching, memory,etc. and helped me get the craziness that is that cupboard under control. Now about once a month one of the girls will realize it is all disorganized in there again and just start sorting it out. He can help fold laundry etc so you are still spending time with him...make it a game by racing who can get the towel folded first or who can stack them highest before they fall. While teaching him about helping out and you can get stuff done. Everything can be play if you make it play!
It may take you longer to fold the towels with his help but you are both having fun doing it. And with practice soon he can do it on his own too.

I'm a late in lifer too and can relate to you so much. The every day stuff gets old but they need that. I always have in the back of my mind "this is short term and soon he won't need me as much." I'm also very grateful that he's HEALTHY and we're not sitting in a hospital.

It GETS better the older they get and they won't DEMAND so much "play time" with you.

I sometimes feel this way. Today my little guy says 'come play with me Mom' and I said, 'I have to finish cleaning!' and then thought, you know how lucky I am he wants to play with me? how lucky I am he's healthy and able and fun? How lucky I am to be his Mom? I spent aprox. 2 more minutes cleaning, and then it was off to 'plant' in the garden, dig for worms, etc.

Don't wish this time away. You NEVER know when you're not going to have it again.

Sing it, Sister! I'm 38 with a 3-year-old and I know exactly what you mean. I've found that if I have music on the background (not even "kid" music - maybe classical or even big band - turns out he loves dancing to big band) he'll play longer by himself. Or i'll give him a bucket of magnet letters and he'll put them all on the fridge, then take them all off again, while listening to the music. A nice break for both of us.

I also pay my 12-year-old neighbor $5/hr for entertaining him once a week or so. (I trust her outside with him, too). If you have a young child in the neighborhood who is available after school or this summer, approach the parent and see if this option might work for you. Even an 8- or 9-year-old could play in the house with him for $2 or $3 an hour while you "supervise" from the another room

My son recently started enjoying painting, so I'll tape some open coffee filters or paper onto a big cookie sheet, get them a little bit wet, and then give him watercolors and a bowl of water. The paint spreads beautifully (like fireworks) when it hits the wet paper. Then we'll put them in the over (set at 180 or 200 degrees) for a few minutes to dry them out faster.

Blow bubbles in the rain - they stick to the grass and the driveway long enough to jump on them when those surfaces are wet.

My kiddo is a sensory seeker and likes to "crash", so we have a pillow mountain set up in the corner of his room. 10-12 old covered pillows and a few cheapies from Target - a great spot for leaping, rolling, and burrowing.

I hope this helps! ~ D.

Have him help with chores. Seriously - you'll actually be more interested, get some of your housework done (slowly), and he'll totally dig it.

At 16 months my son LOVES sweeping, vacuuming, and using a damp rag to wash just about everything. It helps if i am doing the same chore, but for those things he doesn't even need me. He can help put things away - all i have to do is do a sample so he knows where it goes. He can take silverware or napkins and put them on the table. He can pour from one thing to another - so pouring the dog food in the bowl or the measured flour into the bowl both work. He has a stool and he absolutely loves standing at the sink with me while i do dishes. In the yard he will pull up plants, rake, or move rocks around while i do yard work.
By 3, my daughter can help with a lot of the cooking (no raw meat, high heat, or sharp knives, but everything else), setting and clearing the table, more advanced and less supervised sweeping, washing, etc. She loves to move clothes into and out of the washer and dryer, add the soap, press the buttons to make them go. She is learning to fold clothes or napkins and put them away.
I really like this approach because i don't feel as insane, and my kids are both learning how to do chores and learning that their contribution to the household helps. The appreciate the time with me, and i appreciate that they learn to respect me as a person, not just a playmate.

In other news, now that the weather is getting nicer, i'm appreciating that our sandbox, and a bike apiece can keep my kids busy on their own outside for hours.

Build a fort, he would love that, and then get a bunch of coloring books and crayons, some snacks and let him color and draw. The fort will make it seem more fun for him. Also take a nature walk with him. We just did that and my son loved it. The zoo is always a good thing too with the aquariums and all the fish.
Go on some play dates with other moms and watch what they do too. Get bouncy balls and play with them you can get those big ones that are pretty fun. Sand buckets and shovels and get a small sandbox with a lid for the backyard.

There are some really good answers already but I thought I'd share my thoughts with you.

If you can, join Gymboree or My Gym for a couple of classes. Some local colleges have Mom and tot programs also. Here your son will have a chance to play with other kids his age and you might meet another Mom and tot that you both get along with.

My son always wanted me to play with him too. But I also had him play by himself in the same room as I was doing chores in so he still had my company and I could keep him out of harms way. Toys like building blocks or those fat crayons and paper are good toys for independent play. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't buy any of those so-called educational toys that teach letters etc. or toys that talk. These are annoying and most kids won't play with these for extended periods of time.

Don't feel bad about not enjoying playing with your child sometimes because you are an adult after all. It is not always going to be fun. And don't think you have to entertain your child all day, either. I think a child needs some time to play alone also. I think I entertained my child a bit too much when he was younger and it seems now he always expects to be entertained which isn't the way it should be. And I was bored a lot of that time too.

Another idea, if you don't have a sandbox with some of that dust-free clean sand, get one. This can provide hours of entertainment.

Don't feel bad. Even the most energetic and imaginative mom gets burned out. I think you really need a break or else burn out turns into resentment FAST.

I took my kid to large indoor open places, tbh. I coudn't stand being at home to begin with. So we would go to different malls, home improvement stores and hobby stores. He could run around for hours, from one store or aisle to the next. There is so much stimulation in those grown up places - you just have keep him away from all those breakables.

He will have to eventually learn to play on his own for a few minutes at a time. If you don't play with him, believe me, he won't go into therapy at 6 b/c you didn't play w/him every single minute. I never like Babywise the book but I do agree with one point it had - kids need to learn at some point the world doesn't always revolve around them and our kids do need to see us doing other things around the house too.

GL

Sometimes we play hide and seek with a toy or stuffed animal. He leaves the room and I hide it or vise versa. Dancing, build a tent with blankets, play doctor and he gives me and his toys a check up, go outside with a pitcher of water and play with his pretend kitchen cups/pots/pans, soccer, teeball.

My son is also 2 and I totally understand how the home time can feel monotonus (sp??). Anyway, I always have to do one outing a day. Usually in the morning we'll go to an open gym (i live in Seattle too - there are a lot, usually $2 a kid to go and run and play with all kinds of toys etc. check your local community centers but you can go to any that you find, doesn't matter where you live) or park, library,mall, supermarket whatever. Just to get out for an hour or two.
As far as at home fun. I have tried to great sorta small projects. Like last week we planet a container garden on our deck. So we had to get all the stuff and pour the dirt, plant seeds. etc. and that will continue through the summer of course.
Also I cook/bake a lot with my son. He loves to dump the flour into the bowl or shake the italian seasoning on garlic bread. Whatever - helikes to help. And if all else fails I can give him a bowl in the sink and a measuring cup and he's set.
I also try to do the occasional craft or whatnot. I am NOT a crafty person, but it breaks up the day to stop and make a rabbit hat...:)
good luck!

CARDBOARD BOXES. It has been the best times when we have a giant box. I as people when i see them taking the to the curb if they would mine if i sang it. My kids paint them. cut them. make them into cities. We know a good time when we see a big box!!!!! WE also like to make play-doh creations and then we let them dry. We make gifts out of them. Or add them to a gift as decoration. We also will take big sheets of news paper and tape them together. Trace our bodies and make silly outfits for them.

My kids also like to wrestle. They turn our living room into a wwf rink. It only usually lasts about fifteen minutes then i interject and the fun is all done.

I dont think they care what they are doing if they get to spend time with you:)