When do you clean? Play? - Page 2

[StrawberryFields]

I don't play. In the morning I make breakfast and do my work. The kids know that we have to have our work done before we get to play or go anywhere fun. That means dressed, teeth and hair brushed, toys picked up, dishwasher loaded, floor vacuumed. Then we may run errands or go somewhere like the zoo, etc.

I read books, help with puzzles, set up art projects, watch movies, bake/cook with them, push them on the swings, and occasionally build with legos or blocks. But I don't play with toys.

We don't nap here (sigh) so I pretty much work (cook/clean) all day with breaks to read the kids a book, set up a project, etc. I have "me" time to play on the computer or read a magazine when the baby is nursing. Which is a lot

[wsgrl84]

If its a mess my boys made, I usually clean right after, because I don't like looking at it..

Mondays we usually all stay in and I clean the house and my boys play with each other.

I have stopped "playing" with them as much now that my boys are a little older and they play with each other.

Tues-Friday I always take them out for fun and play dates and parks etc for half of the day.

[happyhats]

I'm very relieved to see that others parent the same way or similarly to how I do. I don't "play" with dd either. I interact with her of course, I don't just sit her in front of the tv to rot or throw her in her room and close the door (not that I'm not tempted) but we both tend to do our own thing. At sixteen months, dd is comfortable going into her room for some alone play. She pulls out her blocks or has conversations with her stuffed animals, or pulls apart her play mat. Until recently most of her toys were in the living room because she needed to see me and her daddy and have that reassurance we were present, but she still played independantly. I talk to her about what I'm doing, I talk to her about what she's doing. If she's alone in her room I go to check on her but I want to encourage her independance as well.

[berry987]

Spin-off to "clean or play" thread

Meant to start a new thread!

[ChelsCat06]

I really don't have a set time. I clean whenever I get the chance! Most of the time it is in the morning before DH goes to work and DD is still sleeping.

[zinemama]

I don't know where this idea came from that at-home parents are supposed to play with their children. Historically, that is not what parents who were at home did. They worked in that house and made the kids help as soon as they were able.

I have never felt like I had to play with my children. Like pp said, I involve them in the work of the house (which they love), and I read to them. But playing is their job, not mine.

(Not knocking it if parents actually want to play with their kids - but I feel very strongly that this is an expectation we shouldn't have about our role as parents.)

[nina_yyc]

Originally Posted by zinemama

I don't know where this idea came from that at-home parents are supposed to play with their children. Historically, that is not what parents who were at home did. They worked in that house and made the kids help as soon as they were able.

I have never felt like I had to play with my children. Like pp said, I involve them in the work of the house (which they love), and I read to them. But playing is their job, not mine.

(Not knocking it if parents actually want to play with their kids - but I feel very strongly that this is an expectation we shouldn't have about our role as parents.)