How much time do you spend playing with your 4 year old?

[mommycat]

I am asking cos we had a rainy day today. I did paper mache with DD and then drawing. and we played with toys. we went out for a walk (her in the buggy as she didn't want to go out) and she helped me cook. And we made a t-shirt with screen printing kit. but she STILL kept nagging me to play with her more. I feel like I have done enough today so i said no and she got upset.

btw she is off 'sick' because her nursery has a policy of waiting 24 hours after the last runny poo before they can go back. I took DD to the doctor but the doc didn't see anything wrong. I have to start looking at her diet, even though it's not changed, if DD keeps having diarhea.

Anyway, I just wanted to know what's a reasonable amount of time to play with a 4 year old? her teacher said an hour a day, which is fine on school day, but today we were just home all day and i didn't feel like playing any more. I kept explaining that i had to do grown up things like clean and laundry etc etc but she kept nagging for more playing. I don't remember my mum ever playing with me at that age. I mean we went out and did stuff but i don't remember my mom playing dolls with her (i just emailed her to ask if she did).

thanks

[Pawslikepaddington]

Dd was off sick, and she just watched tv all day. We did 20 mins of lego, 20 mins of stickers, and the rest of the time she was laid on the sofa, so you get an A+ from me. I never play with her any more-I have forgotten how .

[MissisBoot]

That's more than I do in a week

Seriously though - that's more than enough to be keeping her entertained for a day.

Does she play by herself at nursery?

If we're at home normally dd helps with cooking etc and does drawing etc whilst I'm cleaning. She plays in her room every now and again and also watches tv.

I actually rarely play with her toys with her - I just can't do make believe play with her - I don't have the imagination to do it so leave that for dh! We do puzzles etc together though.

[MissisBoot]

That should be a not

[Twims]

As she has a younger sister we have a routine

So a day without school/nursery would be

7-8 tv and play

8 Breakfast all together then get dressed independently.

9 Walk to the shop to get newspaper - go on her scooter/roller skates/bike me pushing babt in pram or her own push along bike.

9.30 Free Play with variety of toys - try to play with her whilst little sister is in the travel cot so that nothing gets trampled etc

10 Snack

10 Art activity at the kitchen table

11 Free play in the garden, playroom am on hand to play too or play with littlest - but promote playing by herself.

11.30 Has to occupy herself whilst I cook lunch

12 Lunch all together.

12.30 Quiet time (dvd) whilst baby has a sleep - My quiet time too - so has to occupy self etc

1.30 Cooking/making cakes whilst baby has a nap

2.30 Snack all together (when baby gets up)

3 Free play in the play room

4 Walk around the block on skates/bike/scooter or a quick trip to the playground.

4.30 Has to occupy self whilst I cook tea.

5 Tea - all together

5.30 Quick play on the Cbeebies website

6.00 Bath time

6.30 Milk and Dvd

7.00 Quick story and straight to sleep.

[mommycat]

DD is 'queen bee' at her nursery, apparently. Total opposite of my own childhood. Maybe that explains a lot. The little girls are climbing over each other to invite my DD over. So, no, I don't think she plays alone at nursery; she plays with all the children.

I was a loner at school, right through until teenage years (when I teamed up with the other loners). So I guess that would account for being happy to play alone at home, too.

[Pawslikepaddington]

I used to play with dd 24/7, but it caused problems when she got to school as she insisted on having the teacher's attention 24/7, so I have slowly introduced playing on her own. She loves drawing etc anyway, so is perfectly happy drawing while I clean and tidy and cook, and then we will go out and play football/play pool in the playroom/bake/read, then she will have some more time on her own, then more with me etc, and she is now seeming to prefer being on her own! Boo!

[MissisBoot]

Maybe she needs to develop her independent play a bit more. If she's always playing with other children and you then she hasn't yet developed this skill.

[mommycat]

Well, done on routine, Twims.

I used to be the earner, was never a SAHM. I'm meant to be looking for work but DH has heart problems at the moment. Which might also explain DD's clingy-ness. She had 2 weeks with no dad. so she wants to play with DH all the time but he has to rest because of his health.

Anyway, I think routines are great, I'm just not that good at sticking to something like that. Maybe I should try it. But with looking for work/volunteering it seems every day is too different.

[MissisBoot]

I think routine does really help. Then they know what is expected of them.

DD entertains herself in the morning til we go - generally get back for lunch and then some quite time/tv and then an activity in the afternoon and then free play for teh rest of the day.

She probably is more clingy as she's picked up on your dh's health problems.