Do You Play?

[Laura5287]

I play with them but recently I have noticed they do not play by themselves or with each other so I am now telling them it is ok to play by yourself or with your friend. My younger one will go off and play but the 4 year old, almost 5, has a hard time. I will tell him what there is in the room because he will look at everything and just stand there. I will get him started with something and then back off.
I have noticed that both families are so busy the kids don't have down time to just think of something to do for themselves.

[NightOwl]

No. Unless I'm offered "lunch" on a little pink plastic plate or if the "phone call" is for me.
This may sound weird, but my one on one time happens mostly at diaper changes. We laugh, I pretend to bite their toes, I sing a song just for them while I'm changing them, we talk about the speck on the ceiling that MUST be a bug of some kind, etc. It's just a few minutes, but they like it and I do too. And we do it several times per day.

[MsLisa]

I don't entertain children. I do plan activities and do the activities with the kids (they play playdough and I can't help but play it too!). But, during free play, I don't play with them. I may sit near them (sometimes doing paperwork or planning lessons) and I will take a bite from the pizza they hand me, but I don't really PLAY with them. I observe, I help problem solve or will redirect if things are going south, but I don't full-on play with them.

I am this too. I walk around my room picking up toys, mediating conflicts, answering questions, giving permissions, helping and discipline as needed. I really can't sit and play as much as I like cause as soon as I do X asks to go to the bathroom then another wants to know who's next on the computer, and etc. I am pulled in a 100 different directions mentally even when I'm merely standing still. I do the art projects with them though, as that's my specialty. They are actually pretty good at playing independently, with each other and with my aides.

BUT....at the same time I'm also their "Mom away from mom", as Laundrymom described. I do hugs and snuggles. I ask them about their day, their accomplishments, and hear their troubles. Help them with homework, congratulate their tests, and celebrate birthdays. Their bond with me is the most important, as they all come from a variety of "unfavorable" homes/parents. I treat them like I treat my own which is with absolute goofy love and occasional tough love thrown in.

[Unregistered]

I don't entertain children. I do plan activities and do the activities with the kids (they play playdough and I can't help but play it too!). But, during free play, I don't play with them. I may sit near them (sometimes doing paperwork or planning lessons) and I will take a bite from the pizza they hand me, but I don't really PLAY with them. I observe, I help problem solve or will redirect if things are going south, but I don't full-on play with them.

Same here.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

ahhh the age old question
yes, and no.
My philosophy has really been changing and evolving. I try to set out things that will interest them and allow them time to explore. I do more question asking than playing. What do you think we could do with this? Is there anything else that you need for that? Look how tall that is! How many blocks do you have there? What color is that? Can you find the letter B in there?

Questions to get them involved but not dictating their play.
I have found that my thought what they would do with it is not generally what they do with it!
Rocks were being cooked the other day and some were people.

Now babies are different- I model different things for them or will endlessly stack blocks to be knocked down! I do try to match some of my others with littles to play also.

My rule is also unless if I have to, I do not disrupt play with my agenda. So if they are all happily involved in play, I do not change the dynamics- I do not pull out puzzles or bring out a different bin. Now, if they seem to be having trouble settling into play I will pull out a different bin, read a book, or something else to change the dynamic so they settle in. What stops play... going outside, lunch.

Now I also pay attention to each child- look on my fb page for the scorpion I try to address what they are asking about. we have been reading books on underground and dirt as they are starting to dig in the mud again and asking where the worms are. I may work with a child on something individually but not the whole group. My 5 year old and I have been working on letters. He is starting to write better so he and I have been writing but obviously my 1 1/2 yr old does not need to sit there with a pencil to write- although she does "write" a lot with pencils. But I do not have to have them all at the table so that I can work with M. That would be silly. I am working with 3 yr old on her colors and self help skills. I don't need the 5 yr old to work on colors! Now, can we all play a game? yes, are there times we are all dancing or building- yes.

Are there times I am in the kitchen and they are all playing without any input from me? Every single day .. a couple of hours in a day!

[originalkat]

I don't entertain children. I do plan activities and do the activities with the kids (they play playdough and I can't help but play it too!). But, during free play, I don't play with them. I may sit near them (sometimes doing paperwork or planning lessons) and I will take a bite from the pizza they hand me, but I don't really PLAY with them. I observe, I help problem solve or will redirect if things are going south, but I don't full-on play with them.

This is me too.