https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:40:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-minuteshours-of-the-day-do-you-actually-play-with-your-children#post-2368668 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:19:17 +0000 Greentea 2368668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All day, everyday? We play, go outside, do activities, also have downtown where she watches a show or plays independently, but I'm right there with her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-minuteshours-of-the-day-do-you-actually-play-with-your-children#post-2368625 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 17:39:29 +0000 daniellemybelle 2368625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm. I had to think about this, haha. Short answer: 2-4 hours total on days we stay home in the morning. 1-2 hours total on days we don't stay home in the morning. I'm a SAHM but we go somewhere like a playdate, gym or the children's museum in the morning 4 out of 5 weekdays.</p> <p>This doesn't really include the minutes here and there of goofing off or randomly sitting down and doing a puzzle together. We basically play intermittently all day but if we go somewhere in the morning, I don't really actively play with her for a prolonged period until the afternoon, post-nap. In the afternoon, we usually stay around the house and I often will do an "educational" activity with her. I count that as playing.</p> <p>@hilsy85: Same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-minuteshours-of-the-day-do-you-actually-play-with-your-children#post-2368553 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 16:39:15 +0000 iluvboba637 2368553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This thread makes me feel better BC I was getting worried that my 2.5 yr old DS did not know how to play independently. He needs us there with him pretty much the entire day. All I could do is maybe go put in a load of laundry where he's content with his cars, Legos, or play dough for like 15 mins. Then he'll say mommy can you play with me please. It makes me feel guilty that he doesn't have a sibling to play with yet. She'll be here in May but too young to play with still. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-minuteshours-of-the-day-do-you-actually-play-with-your-children#post-2368236 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 13:11:07 +0000 gingerbebe 2368236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have to say that DH and I aren't really good at "playing" with DS per se, but we don't really feel like its necessary to constantly occupy our kids as entertainment. We actually encourage independent play a lot. We mostly observe, sit next to, or supervise him playing. If we're laying down near where he's playing he uses us as a jungle gym and is climbing all over us, so I guess that might count towards playing with him. I don't really worry about it because we're just around him a lot during the day (I work part time and DH works from home most of the week). We also try to eat meals together or roughly at the same time and we go grocery shopping as a family together on the weekends. DH and I have our own "activities" we usually do with DS during the day that might count towards play. DS and I have a chasing game, we do some tickle games, and I'm constantly chatting with (to) him and engaging him somehow. DH takes DS to the park almost every day for about an hour, he gives him his bath at night where they splash around, and they usually play blocks and read for about 30 minutes before bed. I would say on average, he "plays" with us for about an hour or 2 a day, but he's around us far more than that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-minuteshours-of-the-day-do-you-actually-play-with-your-children#post-2368012 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:48:26 +0000 lilyann 2368012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>During the week, probably close to an hour. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-minuteshours-of-the-day-do-you-actually-play-with-your-children#post-2368010 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:47:59 +0000 looch 2368010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>During the week, about an hour. On the weekends, we spend a lot more time together, but we're not always playing. We are doing chores, errands, etc.</p> <p>When I was at home with my son, I played with him most of the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-minuteshours-of-the-day-do-you-actually-play-with-your-children#post-2368008 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:46:53 +0000 JoJoGirl 2368008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About an hour during the week. We get home from work/pre-school at 5pm, and I start cooking dinner at 6pm, so I try to focus on just spending QT with her instead of multi-tasking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-minuteshours-of-the-day-do-you-actually-play-with-your-children#post-2368007 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:45:53 +0000 Anya 2368007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>About 20 minutes a day. By the time I get home from work that's all we have time for before it's time to get ready for bed. :sad: Several hours a day on weekends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-minuteshours-of-the-day-do-you-actually-play-with-your-children#post-2368002 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:41:48 +0000 anonysquire 2368002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Roughly most of the day. Especially my youngest, he can't be put down ever!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-minuteshours-of-the-day-do-you-actually-play-with-your-children#post-2367961 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:14:30 +0000 AggieDaze 2367961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends. I work part time. </p> <p>On work days (3 per week), I probably spend an hour playing with him between daycare and dinner and then another 30 minutes reading and chatting before bed. </p> <p>On my SAHM days (2 per week), I play with him all day from when my husband leaves until he gets home so I'd say 8-10 hours depending on how long nap lasts. Since I just had Lo2 and was hugely pregnant, the amount of active play decreased on the past few months (me on the floor with him) but I make a point to do that several times a day for an hour or so each.</p> <p>On weekends, DH and I typically split play time half and half though we also tend to just be out and about more so there is more park visits and less toy playing. With breastfeeding Lo2, DH had definitely had to step up in the playtime department. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-minuteshours-of-the-day-do-you-actually-play-with-your-children#post-2367954 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 10:10:27 +0000 hilsy85 2367954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably 20-30 min of every hour that we are home actually actively playing with him. The rest of the time, I am either sitting next to him and more observing/doing other stuff while sitting there, or doing other things around the house/with the baby. Even when I am not with him actively I try to be involved if he wants me to be (having conversations with him, asking him questions about his play, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-many-minuteshours-of-the-day-do-you-actually-play-with-your-children#post-2367909 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 09:45:36 +0000 mediagirl 2367909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Weekdays I don't play with her much at all. Maybe a half hour. That doesn't include time we spend reading together. I'm thinking about things like playing legos, coloring and dolls. </p> <p>How much time do you spend playing with your kid(s)? </p>