Two things come immediately to mind...first...my first child did NOT watch tv (we were "good" parents then!) and still hated toys. He preferred to be "doing"--usually whatever we were doing. He liked to wander outside. For him, it was simply a matter of finding something that mattered to him. Being outside, and eventually, riding bikes or playing with scooters (even little kid ones) absorbed his time. He is now 6 and still is not big into toys. Then there's my second. He too would watch tv all day...because we let him. After a week with grandma and grandpa, who play nicely with him with his toys, he has "learned" again to play with his toys and not to just zone to the tv. I think if you persevere, limit tv pretty dramatically, she will learn to play on her own. It's really hard...and will perhaps be pretty intense for YOU...but the payback should be good. I personally am a little worried about this issue myself--my older son is home from school, I'm pregnant and tired, and I hope I don't sit my kids in front of the tv all summer!! Good luck!!!
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Two things come immediately to mind...first...my first child did NOT watch tv (we were "good" parents then!) and still hated toys. He preferred to be "doing"--usually whatever we were doing. He liked to wander outside. For him, it was simply a matter of finding something that mattered to him. Being outside, and eventually, riding bikes or playing with scooters (even little kid ones) absorbed his time. He is now 6 and still is not big into toys. Then there's my second. He too would watch tv all day...because we let him. After a week with grandma and grandpa, who play nicely with him with his toys, he has "learned" again to play with his toys and not to just zone to the tv. I think if you persevere, limit tv pretty dramatically, she will learn to play on her own. It's really hard...and will perhaps be pretty intense for YOU...but the payback should be good. I personally am a little worried about this issue myself--my older son is home from school, I'm pregnant and tired, and I hope I don't sit my kids in front of the tv all summer!! Good luck!!!