Hellobee Boards Topic: How much do you play with your Lo(s)?

Hellobee Boards Topic: How much do you play with your Lo(s)? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 14 May 2026 19:14:09 +0000 alphagam84 on "How much do you play with your Lo(s)?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-play-with-your-los#post-2590488 Fri, 22 Jul 2016 08:04:47 +0000 alphagam84 2590488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I tend to stay in the room near her while she's playing but just let her play independently. I figure she'll come over to me if she wants to play with me. She loves playing with her toys and does pretty good by herself. We're trying to encourage independent play so she's good it when she's older so she won't expect us to constantly entertain her. She's 8 months right now. lamariniere on "How much do you play with your Lo(s)?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-play-with-your-los#post-2590375 Fri, 22 Jul 2016 00:04:05 +0000 lamariniere 2590375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Anagram: this is almost exactly how I approach it! jhd on "How much do you play with your Lo(s)?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-play-with-your-los#post-2590333 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 21:46:05 +0000 jhd 2590333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I mostly SAH so my situation is a bit different. But LO (2) plays extremely well by himself and is also good at asking if he wants me to play. But even though I only work a few hours per week, I still don't do all kinds of Pinterest inspired activities so don't worry! ;) Dahlia on "How much do you play with your Lo(s)?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-play-with-your-los#post-2590328 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 21:29:52 +0000 Dahlia 2590328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Thanks, everyone! You're making me feel better. We play with her a ton, so this afternoon I started to worry maybe we needed to encourage her play alone more (and it would be nice to take a break from being on the floor!). Then I went too far in the other direction and felt guilty that I wasn't doing educational activities with her beside reading books. Can you tell this is my first kid?? :silly: Mrs. Sunshine on "How much do you play with your Lo(s)?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-play-with-your-los#post-2590327 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 21:24:30 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2590327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't sit down and play with my kids very often at all and I SAH woth them full time! I generally try to include them in what I'm doing, sing silly songs with them, talk with them, do a quick chase around the house if I'm moving about the rooms. I do take them outside a few times a day, but even then, it still trends more toward supervision versus actual play. DD1's whole first year of life I spent nearly every second on the floor engaging her and any moment I wasn't I felt horrible about it. Then I got pregnant with DD2 and my availability changed. I feel like I have a nice balance of being present with them, providing independence, engaging them in daily life, and still occasionally playing. You're doing a good job! Don't sweat it :wink: Anagram on "How much do you play with your Lo(s)?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-play-with-your-los#post-2590282 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 20:15:55 +0000 Anagram 2590282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If my kids are happily playing independently, I don't bother them. If they want my attention, I try to give it to them...even if I am doing something else, I try to involve them or hold them while I cook or do laundry, or whatever. Pinteresty crafts....rarely to never. Sometimes for special occasions or holidays. In our house, we mostly paint, color, draw, build with blocks or magnatiles, or semi rough play like somersaults and wrestling and tickling on the floor. The majority of our "play time" is outside at our local playgrounds--we generally go twice a day. During playground time, I rarely have my phone out (unless I have to look up something specific, like what time the dry cleaner closes), and that's when they have the most attention from me. But there are two of them and 1 of me, so even then it's not undivided attention. I honestly don't worry about it much. My older one has days where she is verrrrrry content to play alone for long periods of time, and I just let her have at it. I think she likes knowing I'm there and nearby, and that's enough for her. macintosh on "How much do you play with your Lo(s)?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-play-with-your-los#post-2590276 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 20:12:18 +0000 macintosh 2590276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Dude, my LO is 14 months and he does not play well by himself. I have to watch him constantly or he'll be on the furniture or grabbing something he's not supposed to have. He's into everything! I really have to be in the room with him at all times, but sometimes I'll sit on the couch and just watch him play. I freaking love it when I can get a babysitter for a few hours. Cole on "How much do you play with your Lo(s)?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-play-with-your-los#post-2590246 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 19:30:16 +0000 Cole 2590246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm more likely to include her in things I'm doing than play with her. At that age we'd spend about fifteen minutes playing with her toys or doing an activity a few times a day. We also read a lot, rarely at sleep times but frequently through the day. I am not really even what Pinterest activities you can actually do with a young 1 year old, at 21 months we do lots of art projects but they are all process related. We do some sensory stuff but that's like play dough or scooping beans once a week. They go through so many phases with okay, leave her be of she's happy. At some point she will let you know if she wants more interaction during play. travellingbee on "How much do you play with your Lo(s)?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-play-with-your-los#post-2590236 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 19:22:23 +0000 travellingbee 2590236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I always have the same guilty feeling but bono don't do Pinteresty things with them. And I let him (DS1) play independently a lot more than I play with him. But I talk to him and read with him etc. gentlelunette on "How much do you play with your Lo(s)?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-play-with-your-los#post-2590233 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 19:18:01 +0000 gentlelunette 2590233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DD is 16 months and spends every day at daycare. When we get home, I give her about 30 minutes of undivided play time with me before dinner needs to be made. She doesn't play by herself very well, and will usually follow me into the kitchen and want to be held or I'll give her some kitchen items to explore. Then we play together again after dinner. I miss her so much after a long day at work, so I just finish the housework after she goes to bed. Apparently at daycare, she plays alone sometimes so I take all the playtime with her I can get. Lol Dahlia on "How much do you play with your Lo(s)?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-much-do-you-play-with-your-los#post-2590198 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 18:07:52 +0000 Dahlia 2590198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DD is a year and goes to daycare a few hours every day. When she's at home she's really good at playing by herself and seems to enjoy it. But I feel guilty and like I should be playing with her every minute since I send her to school for 6 hours. How do you find balance between playing with them and letting them play alone? And related question - if you have a young toddler, do you do "activities" with them (all those pinteresty things like sensory boards and crafts) or just play freely? Thanks!