amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Mrsmissy · 08-23-2003, 01:43 PM

I'm bumping this because I have to re-read it every once in awhile. I also hope people will add to it as well!!!!!!!

MamaJosie · 08-23-2003, 02:11 PM

person either but I do things like just turn on some lively music and dance with them and my 4 yr dd loves games especially card games like Slamwhich and Ratt-a-tat-Cat - those are wonderful from gamewright I think. Also stuff like either making homemade playdough or just store bought can be fun. Some of the playdough toys are fun like the hair salon with the little figures that you can squish the playdough out of their heads to make hair and then cut the hair. My dd loves the little polly pocket dolls and that is the main pretend game we do together - she likes to have Polly pool parties in the sink! Bubble stuff, a wading pool outside or paper crafts where you just glue torn up bits of construction paper and buttons, magazine cut outs etc to make a collage. Hide and seek is a biggie here too! And there are neat educational games even just at wal-mart like an m&m counting game where you use m&ms to learn to count. Elope hats are awesome for dressup and generally cultivating a silly attitude. My dd would like to play more than we do but sometimes she wears me out wanting to play so much and this year I have told her she can have a preschool friend over once and a while. I didnt let her have friends over last year except when cousins came to visit. She really craves a playmate her own age. Her almost 3 yr old brother and she do well sometimes especially in the bath but she really loves to play pretend most!

Daniel's Mama · 08-23-2003, 10:48 PM

I was a preschool teacher before having Daniel, so I'm used to being silly in public.

Just BE a kid with them. Think like they do. Look at the bugs they find, build with blocks and get down on their level with them. Make eye contact with them, follow their lead, let them make up the games and rules. Try not to take over for them (dh does this and it makes Daniel crazy).

There's nothing magical to it

just be a KID

HTH