When I was a kid, I don't remember my parents ever really "playing" with us. They were home, but they were busy doing their own things. We never expected them to entertain us.
But this generation we spend so much time playing with our kids. We take them to the zoo, museums, all kinds of classes and activities... things that were special when we were kids are now the norm to our kids.
Did your parents "play" with you? Do you "play" with your kids all the time?