If You Have a Toddler...

I play off-and-on with my 3.5 yr old all day long. He plays well by himself, but will sit down and color with him, or play with play-doh. He'll telll me to chase him and I'll spend a few minutes doing so, then we'll take a break, then play some more. Last week we spent one evening playing "Captain America" where we basically had a small pillow fight running around the living room. Fun stuff. I'll have him help me with cutting up dinner or something as well.

So, no real "30 minutes 4 times a day" or any set amount of time. Some days are different than others. It's off-and-on all day most of the time.

Everything to me is interaction with your child.
So "playing" per say... is a really wide thing.
Everything to me, as you interact with your child, is teaching them something and them having fun, hopefully. Thus it is "playing."
Even if they are helping you, wipe the tables. They are "learning" something. Play... is learning. As well.

But for one-on-one "play" it really varies.
Per child and per their rhythms.
My daughter for example, when younger, didn't have anyone to "play" with... because she was an only child. So I spent a lot of time with her throughout the day. But that included me doing things too, along side with her. And teaching her things.
My son, he is more independent and does a lot of self-play. And since he has a sibling, (my older daughter) they play together, too. And are two peas in a pod, even if they are 4 years apart.

I do my day as need be. Which includes time with the kids, directed time and also do things I need to do. Chores. Errands, etc. Therefore, the kids get used to... the runnings of a home and family... and it becomes, just how it is. And they are a PART, of that.
They know, we always do things together, and then there is adult time and just things which we all do together.
My daughter even helps me wash the windows... and for her this is "fun" and together time/playing.
Of which, play time is age appropriate... and per the needs of my children.

In some Era's...the parents did NOT do much one on one "playing" with their kids... because, they were working. And the times were different.
My Husband, his parents did not play with him. He was pretty much on his own. They supervised or so. But he entertained himself, a lot. Even if his Mom was a stay at home Mom.
But he said, it was lonely.

So the bottom line is: you do what YOU feel is best, for your child and their needs.
It is not about how many hours... you spend one on one with them.
Because, quantity does NOT equate, quality... or fulfilling your child's needs... emotionally.
Some adults spend a ton of time with their kids... but they are not present. They are still, not "with" their child.

Wow, I don't think I've ever thought about it but as I stay home with him I'd say many times a day. I try to make everything fun and often turn things into little games so we just play a lot.

I can only tell you how my grown daughters interact with their children. Both of them are SAHM....and both of them practice attachment parenting. My oldest grandson...who is the son of my oldest daughter is not a very independant child so she spent a LOT of her day playing one on one with him when he was younger. ( He just turned 4). They did a lot of reading, going to museums, play grounds etc....basically her day revolved around him.
My youngest grandson ( who will be 2 in Jan) is much more independant...has been since day one. He doesn't object to playing alone...he can entertain himself with blocks, trains, cars, etc for 30 minutes or more at a time. But his Mom (my middle daughter) still spends a LOT of time playing with him.
Both of my grandsons love to play with modeling clay, art materials etc...and that requires some one on one direction at a young age. They both love to be read to...they love pretend play...dressing up as characters etc.
I think that one on one interaction is the way that your toddler learns. He/she learns the art of conversation from you...and you can teach them SO many things!! Both of my grandsons ADORE dinosaurs...and you would not believe the amount of knowledge that they have...especially my 4 year old grandson!! He can identify the type of dinosaur from a fossil in a museum!!!
They also interact a LOT in the kitchen...they both have learning towers that the boys climb up on and help their Mom with cooking. It is a great way for them to learn and enjoy time with their Moms.
Don't be afraid to just let your toddler be your shadow...it is the way they are going to learn and develop.

It has been my experience that most children between about 1 and 3 are extremely busy and although they may seek one on one attention many times per day, it's never for more than a few minutes. As they get older, 3 and 4, then they would probably play with us as much as we had time for. But if they have other children around, then we take a back seat to the kids playing together.

Maybe half an hour or so. The day is so busy anyway there just isn't much more time than that. They have toys and can play in their room or play outside and have fun.

when my kids were 1 and 2 (18 months apart) I played with them alot.. as they were too young to play together without fighting.

now they are 4 and 6 and they play with each other and dont need me to play much.. but it depends on the kid.. my daughter is more independent she likes to play alone. my son is mr social. he wants someone to play with him all the time.. when his sister is in kindergarden (1/2 day) he doenst know what to do.

not a lot, honestly I set him up and walk away ... I get him going on something and then let him have fun doing it ... he does help me cook sometimes and we play some video games together but we cuddle a whole lot.

one on one? maybe once a day with all three of my kids. I have a 4 year old, a 2 year old, and a 1 year old.

as much as i can in between getting stuff done!

It depends on how his day is going! Most days I rarely do one-on-one play with toys with him. In fact, I never play with toys with him! I am a terrible mother!

Luckily, my daughter plays with him all day long. I am hoping to make more time in the New Year.

2-3 times. Once in the morning before nap, once after nap and usually cuddle on the couch reading library books together. Usually 40 min to an hour each time. Now some days are less and some are more :) But we do have lots of fun all day.

Are we talking SAHM or full-time working moms? Since I work full-time, I only have a few hours a day available to play with my girl (she's 3). On the drive home we talk about our day and share anything "interesting" that happened. Once we get home, she plays in her room (or gets dad to play with her) while I start dinner. When the food is almost ready, she helps to clean/set the table. We all talk about our day and whatever while we eat dinner. After dinner, dad cleans the kitchen, I do a few minor chores (laundry, cats, etc) while she finishes eating (she's a very slow "grazer"). By the time she's done, we're ready for family time. If she is content to play in her room--she will do that until she gets bored. Or, we may all watch tv together--if that's the case, we'll usually bring out a game or puzzle to play with together. We get about 1.5 hours of this activity. Then, it's time for bed routine (bath, teeth, book, tucking in). So, on an average weekday, that's it, 1-2 hours. On the weekend, we do a lot more playing, we will "cook" in her kitchen, or do crafts, or (when it's warm enough) spend hours exploring outside. Probably about 6-8 hours of real play time. Of course, my girl is very independent, so most of the time she'd rather play by herself (for example: "cook" for us and bring us "food" wherever we are; or set up her Little People village then invite me in her room to see what they're doing).
I think we spend "enough" time together--she's a well-rounded, fairly well-behaved kid and she is very affectionate with us.

I stay at home with my 20 month old. Defining one on one play as sitting with him, actively participating in play with a toy or coloring, etc. I would estimate perhaps 6 or so times a day, I make an effort to give him my undivided attention in playing whatever he wants. This usually lasts, maybe 15 minutes. In the other hours of the day, of course we are still interacting (meals, talking, diapers, baths, naps, cleaning/chores etc.) but that's my estimate as far as one-on-one "play." He gets pretty bored being as though it is just he and I in the house all day.