My two-year-old lately needs constant play--with me, and her two favorite stuffed animals. In the morning I have to make "kitty" run around in circles with her and I must do it it standing up! I also have to put her favorite lion puppet on or she won't even attempt to brush her teeth.
If we are with other kids and when we leave the house, this routine dissipates so I'm guessing the socialization is good for her--and me!
It's cute and all but sometimes I do wish she could play on her own for just a few minutes when we are home, but thankfully we are always out and about.
hen I feel guilty for feeling this way because yeah, they are only this small once.
Anyone else go through this guilt?
ETA; Just to let you know that I DO play with my daugher all tlhe time, even when we are "out and about." We hardly ever watch TV so her imagination is constantly going. I'm just better at playing when we are out. I.E. Parks, indoor playgrounds, libaries, even in the car.
I guess I was waiting for that one guilt-invoking response :-)
yeah...it's a phase that lasts as long as you play the game :P eventually you'll have to decide it's time to put your foot down. and she'll hate it, but you'll be so sick of it you will find your firmness lol. then there will be some new "game"....
Brace yourself...the "phases" just change.....and you STILL won't "want" to do it.
I can trace my kid's growth by the stages and hoops to be jumped through and the guilt for hating it at times!
Elmo....Thomas the Tank Engine.....Disney/Pixar Cars.......Nascar,......Football teams & helmets....baseball cards.......army guys and tanks.......((silent scream!))
Limit the "together" play time - say 10 min then you have to play by yourself while mommy does xyz. You WILL be met with resistance at first, but keep it going.
haha, you taught her the game to begin with.... it happens to all of us, and YES, it's a phase :)
Yes, the game will change. But keep playing it with her when it does. It's kitty now, and it will be something else later.
We all want a little time to ourselves but -- do you have only one kid right now? Is this more about not wanting to play when she wants you to, and it's not about being tired because of a new baby or demanding older sibling? If so, then try to enjoy the fact she wants to play with you. This is normal for her age and this is how two-year-olds learn; play is not just for fun; they are learning from the words you speak to them, the songs you sing, the stories you help them make up. It's also how they learn that mom is someone on whom they can rely and someone who listens to them and someone who has...an imagination. Playing with her helps her own imagination grow and frankly makes you great in her eyes. She will learn to play on her own for those few minutes soon. So think about all she is learning and the fun she is having, rather than focusing on feeling guilty. Focus on being a kid yourself for a while -- kids are great excuse to BE a kid at times.
You do want her to learn gradually to entertain herself for short periods. Gradually is the key word here because at two, she should not be expected to entertain herself for more than mere moments; keep your expectations of her realistic and age-appropriate. But if you are "always out and about" how will she learn to entertain herself on her own at home? That kind of learning will only happen at home, and after you do play with her a while longer. Having her out and about all the time won't teach her to give you those few minutes when you're back at home.
All too soon she will be less and less interested in playing with you. Why not try to actually enjoy the playing and not see it as a chore or a bore? My daughter is 11 and she still calls me to her room to play with her beloved stuffed animals with her, and it's a blast. She's self-sufficient but still wants that kind of attention and sharing at times, and I always try to go play because I'm glad she still wants to do so.
