Tammi67 said:
Does anyone else have this problem....a child that cannot play by themselves, or use their imagination and play with toys? I love my son dearly but sometimes it drives me nuts that he has to constanly be entertained. If it isn't a video or computer game, it doesn't get played with. He just had a birthday, plus Christmas, and got power ranger figures and cars and stuff, and they sit there. It's always "mommy can we do this or mommy can we do that". I don't know if it is a first-born thing (always had my attention) or a boy thing, a combo, or not related at all. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Maybe try to do things that will promote him to play on his own. Such as gather up a bag of items set at timer for 10 to 20 minutes when the timer goes off he is able to show you what he came up with. You could do a bag where he has to build something-blocks, cars legos, duplos, play dough, deck of cards, etc, one where he has to make a short skit-clothing itmes from various family members,various toys, random kitchen supplies, etc one where he has to do something with Alyssa- this could have dolls, blocks, crayons, markers, basically anything would work., one he has to make something for someone else-such as a card, bookmark, etc -in this include glue, markers, crayons, scissors, maybe old magazines. Another one he could draw his favorite things include paper, crayons, markers, etc.
Set up rules and write them on a notecard or paper for him. Example: Your mission is to make something for someone else, you may make anything with the included supplies. You may only use the supplies included in this bag. The timer will be set for 10 minutes, when the bell rings you may share what you have created. Before the mission begins you may have 1 minute to ask questions. Once the timer has started you may not ask anymore questions, you must work quietly until the bell rings.
Happy creating. Let the mission begin.
I would start with a short task and slowly increas the time by 5 minutes. This way you will slowly gain time where he plays on his own. I know at first you must help to stimulate the play, but hopefully it will lead to him creating things on his own.
Becky
