amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Kbsmama · 03-23-2005, 10:27 AM

I have such a hard time playing with my kids...My oldest never wants to do crafts and wants to play pretend Star Wars or Pokemon most of the time. I have managed to get them to do a "dance party" with me, where we put on music and dance around and play. This is something all of the kids can enjoy. I have an almost 7-year old, almost 4-year old, and a 16 month old. The boys like to play legos and blocks and trains, but the 16 month old is in a dive and destroy mode, and rather than play with them, I wind up trying to keep her from destroying everything.

What can I do? I am so looking forward to spring when we can all go out and run around, play catch, splash in puddles, go to the park and swing, etc., but for now, there's still snow on the ground with no thaw in the forseeable future.

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I just don't know what to do with them. Before I had kids, I envisioned hours of craft projects, and that never materialized with DS#1. Since having DS#2 and DD, I seem to have forgotten how to play with my kids. I would go into why I think this is, but that's a whole different post...Right now, I just need ideas that will work for our varied ages without too much hair-pulling!

Michele~Owner · 03-23-2005, 10:36 AM

We do alot of baking, crafts inside ect... I have a 365 things to do with your kids craft book here. I can always go through it for you and give you some ideas.

BTW, I tell my children Friday night is they're night to cook under my supervision of course. Last friday night they decided to cook eggs, bacon and toast for dinner. LOL My 2 yr old was even craking eggs. I let my children be involved in everything I do. I homeschool my children also so I do alot more with them.

Here's a great and fun recipe for ya.

2 cups of peanut butter, place in large zip lock bag, slowly add flour to take away the stickiness of the peanut butter, close the zip lock bag and mix the mixture inside until it is doughy. Take it out and they have edible dough. I put raisens in mine. They can build away and eat when they are done.

lupineperriwink · 03-23-2005, 10:36 AM

There is a nice Yahoo list called Everyday Waldorf that is sent out weekly with some fun ideas in it.

~Meeshi~ · 03-23-2005, 10:38 AM

I like to set up obstacle courses for the girls. We move around furniture or couch cushions and have races. Things like crawl under the table, jump from cushion to cushion, walk along the jumprope (set out like a balance beam) and so on.

I set up bushel baskets and we toss in bean bags and soft balls.

The girls love to play with ther kitchen, so I pretend to be a customer in a restaurant and they cook up fancy feasts for me.

We play "Hide the Thimble" though we usually use an amethyst stone. One person hides it and then gives clues (warm or cold) to help them find it.

We play hide and seek, too.

I set a table leaf up along the stairs for a little slide.

Luckily, the girls *loooove* crafts, so we do those a lot.

A variation on the dance party is to have them stop dancing and "freeze" when you turn off the music.

Just a few ideas, hope this gives you some inspiration.

Amethyst · 03-23-2005, 10:52 AM

Those are all great ideas! I really love the peanut butter dough thing. We will have to try that soon.

We read books a lot here. My kids can't get enough of books. My kids really, really love to paint, too. I save big pieces of paper and paper bags for them to use as big canvas. Butcher paper is great. It has that waxy side, so the paint can't go through and you can make it as big as you want for them to draw or paint on. My kids recently made life size self portraits. (those were fun to hang up! LOL!)

Shannon · 03-23-2005, 11:22 AM

Great ideas!

shanleysmama · 03-23-2005, 11:29 AM

My DD loves crafts, so we do those a lot. Last night we made "Happy Spring cards" like in Family Fun, and we're making Easter Bunny S'mores in a Jar for gifts.
Yesterday she put on her princess costume and wanted to dance for me, so I put on a CD of sitar music, gave her some silk scarves, and she entertained us for an hour while I cooked dinner, LOL. I think I need to sign her up for dance class, LOL.
My kids love their playstands and wood food. We play store and pizza parlor a lot. They like to play Chutes and Ladders, Junior Monoply (DS is only 4, so we fudge the rules a bit), Go Fish, Crazy Eights and Twister. DD likes to play Junior Scrabble.
This morning DS and I played freeze tag. He also loves to cook, and last week we made chocolate chip cookies and oreo cheesecake. Now he wants to make gingerbread man cookies, so I'll be digging up a recipe soon.
If you can't go outside, how about putting rice in a big pan on the floor, and give the kids scoops and measuring cups? I hear the rice is easy to sweep/vacuum and re-use. Or indoor picnics.
We do the PB dough also, but use equal parts powdered milk & smooth PB, and a little honey. It's a lot of fun.
We have also arranged the stuffed animals around the house by "theme" and the kids pretend they are at the zoo. One can be tour guide.

Barb · 03-23-2005, 11:30 AM

we do alot of dressup around here - where i'll come up with the "theme" and they dress up and then pretend around their costumes.
Also the kitchen thing like Meeshi said where I'm the customer and they need to cook me meals.

We do alot of crafts - making playdough today

the boys = we make 'roads' with blocks and they like to drive their cars and trucks thru the mazes we make

we also do cook/bake alot.

we get out of here when i can't think of things to do - walk to the park, library once a week, playgroup, the mall play area, out for ice cream, etc

Ocelot · 03-23-2005, 11:30 AM

Well considering I don't like playing with my kids (as in the "play with toys"), where is the hide behind the couch simile?
Here is what I do.
They join me in what I am doing. Gardening is a big one, also cleaning and cooking. I set up art projects and will help if needed. I also get out and set up toys if inspiration is needed. We do go to the park every day weather permits and I will read to them as much as they want. But I do not actively play (i.e. get on the floor and play Rescue Heroes) with the boys very often, I get bored. I am a grown woman not a 5 year old boy....How bad is that?

arasmama · 03-23-2005, 12:34 PM

I am not a child and I get really bored with most kid games. I had two kids so they would have someone else to play with.

That said, I do things with my kids, just not kid things. They cook with me, clean house (they think vacuuming is fun - go figure), sew with me. We go for walks and bike rides, go to the park, visit museums, read stories, and I do set out projects with them and sometimes I do the actual project (if it is something I enjoy, like beading). Sometimes I'll play board games if it is something that doesn't bore me to tears.

My kids play pretend almost all day. I don't join in unless it is something I can do while doing other household things. I don't mind placing an order in their restuarant if I can get it to go

Unless you only have 1 child, I guess I don't see the need to "play" with them. I interact with my kids ALL DAY LONG. They get tons of mommy time, it just isn't all devoted strictly to them.

Katie · 03-23-2005, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ocelot

Well considering I don't like playing with my kids (as in the "play with toys"), where is the hide behind the couch simile?
Here is what I do.
They join me in what I am doing. Gardening is a big one, also cleaning and cooking. I set up art projects and will help if needed. I also get out and set up toys if inspiration is needed. We do go to the park every day weather permits and I will read to them as much as they want. But I do not actively play (i.e. get on the floor and play Rescue Heroes) with the boys very often, I get bored. I am a grown woman not a 5 year old boy....How bad is that?

Hiding behind the couch too. LOL.

I do play board games with the kids from time to time. Only because they need a referee.
The "funny-walking-game" is another. While I sit and fold clothes, the kids will walk like an animal and I'm to guess what they are. They made that up.

That's about it tho. I'm just not as imaginative as my kids, so I don't want to squash their creative play with my lack of enthusiasm.

edit to add: If we're felting, crafting or sewing, that's an entirely different ball game. LOL. Bring on the glitter.

Katie

Kbsmama · 03-23-2005, 01:29 PM

These are some great ideas, and you make me feel better. I am trying to make what I do every day more interactive, KWIM? I am trying to relax over stuff and let them join in as much as possible. Playing pretend Star Wars or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is not much fun for me. DS #2 and DD and I made pretzels this morning. This afternoon, I am thinking I will mix up some of that peanut butter playdough and let them at it; that will provide an afternoon snack and some fun for DS#1!

I really like cooking and baking, and so that is something I need to let them get involved in more, even if it takes longer or makes a bigger mess.

ZandLsMom · 03-23-2005, 01:31 PM

I have a 2.5 yo who is totally into his trains. We build and rebuild tracks every day, play with the tracks and trains much of our day these days. He's got some Wonder Color stuff we play with and we go out on the swing set and he rides his toddler 4-wheeler.

DD is too young to "play" with him, but he spends a lot of time showing her stuff too.

*~Disney_Jen~* · 03-23-2005, 03:31 PM

we do crafts, baking, and chores together.. all while dancing and singing to music.

we play store... I will let the kids take the computer chair with whells and use it as a shopping cart and they go grocery shopping in my cupboards, they bring everything up to the table where I am the cashier and we count our money together to practice with our numbers. Then they put the stuff away back in the shelves in abc order lol.. its a long "game" lol

we sing some more.

read books

color in coloring books

watch dvd's together and snuggle eating popcorn and we laugh at all the corny things. the kids think its so much fun. we make a mess with the popcorn and i dont care a bit.

we play trains and mommy sets up the track.. that takes forever!! lol

we play pirates.. we make thier bunk beds into a pirate ship with our blankets as sails.. then we sing yo ho yo ho a pirates life for me lol.. and pretend to fish using our stuffed animals lol.

computer games

im drawing a blank but there has got to be more lol..

maryalene · 03-23-2005, 03:58 PM

I have a real hard time playing with my kids. Imaginary play in particular is really hard for me - I just don't enjoy it at all. We read books a lot but otherwise the kids mainly interact with me as I go about my day cleaning, cooking, running errands, etc. However, I really try to accomodate my kids if they ask to do something. If they want to play puppies or cars or pokeman, I try to ask myself why I am saying no. If I am really not busy with anything else, I make an effort to play with them for a half hour or so. I try to remind myself that I would be unhappy if I never got to do what I wanted, and I'm sure my kids feel the same when I say no all the time. I guess I'm just blabbering on here and not offering much advice. But I completely emphatize with your situation.