Should a 1yo be playing more?

[ghostlykisses]

I am doing childcare for a family and I have some questions about toddlers. My youngest child is seven years old so I am a little rusty on the toddlers years and my memory might be a little foggy. Can you refresh my memory?

The little guy I am watching is an absolute doll but he does not really play. He is about 15 months old. He basically walks around all day aimlessly. He will sometimes pick up a toy like the play dust buster and rub it on the floor for a minute before walking away. He will push a button on a toy that makes a noise and then just walk away. I have tried to engage him in play with different open ended toys and items but he has no interest. Outside he just tries to walk toward the driveway and I have to keep trying to engage him in an age appropriate activity but he just walks away, and I have to lead him back to the area where we are playing over and over. I just can't seem to remember if that is normal for this age. In my head I see MY kids at that age playing with things at least for a short time. I have tons of toddler and preschool age toys that are mostly open ended so lack of things is not the issue.

If this is not the norm does anyone have tips on how I can teach this sweet little guy to engage in play?

[Anna's Lovey]

I don't know what normal is, but my lo wouldn't play much by herself at that age. Sometimes she would push a truck around for about five minutes, but mostly she wouldn't play with any one thing for more than, like eight seconds. Actually, now that I think of it, I introduced majic markers at eighteen months and she would draw on the kitchen floor for a good solid ten minutes sometimes while I cooked or washed dishes. Also, things like playing with water and finger paints held her attention for a long time, but only if I was right there with her.
Don't know if that helps.

[curiouscanadian]

I have to admit this sounds a bit "odd" (for lack of a better term) to me. DS is 19mo now, and while he didn't necessarily play with his actual toys, he could and would play for quite awhile with every day things (like plastic bottles of any sort) at that age.

If it is beyond the norm, you might get a better, more helpful response if you post this over in Special Needs parenting...

[physmom]

Hmm... FWIW, DD (almost 15 months) can play quite awhile with toys. She's mostly interested in stuff for pretend play (dolls, stuffed animals, her dollhouse, etc). She'll also use her blocks as other objects (like as a cell phone or as dolls).

Could it be that he just doesn't like the type of toys around? Have you tried non-toys (like pots and pans). Another thing DD LOVES is dress up and she's constantly asking me to put different outfits on her. Would he like something like that?

DD also ignores toys sometimes if I don't point them out to her. However, if I go over that and show it to her she'll get more excited. Especially if I use that toy in a new and fun way. For instance, we were used the top of her dollhouse today as a slide for her dolls and she thought that was great! We try and also think up new ways for her to play with her toys and so that she gets her own ideas.

It could just be his personality too. He might just have bigger and better things to do. You say he walks around a lot... did he learn to walk recently? DD went through a phase when she was a new walker where she didn't want to read or sit still very much at all.

[bluebirdiemama]

My dd plays by herself all the time. She's 14 months. But when my son was that age, while he could entertain himself for a few minutes, maybe 10-15, it wasn't nearly as much as my dd.
Maybe it's just his personality. Does he seem content with what he's doing? Are there wheels turning in his head?

If you're really worried about it you could talk to his parents and find out what he likes to do at home. He could be lonely, wanting someone his own age. Or if you just started taking care of him, trying to get a feel for everything

[Laurienna]

DS could entertain himself for hours. DD1 occupied herself by getting "in trouble" (climbing the fence at 15 months old, getting clothes out of cupboards, eating chalk insects rocks feathers anything that is not actually edible... Lots and lots of water play and dress up ).
Now comes DD2. Boy. I thought DD1 was hard, well that was nothing. DD2 has had one idea in mind since she was born: moving her body. she was a very unhappy baby until she could walk. Now, like your little guy, she wants to walk all the time, everywhere. And the first thing she does when we are out front is running to the street. She is never happier than on nature trails, the park etc...She doesn't play much with toys and never has. She kinda likes everyday items but for less than 5mns. Except for my button box which is fascinating to her. In fact she likes a lot boxes full of fairly small items so you could try a box with shells, big buttons etc and just supervise of course.
Yesterday she figured out how to climb the couch and spent 20 mns going up and down. That's the kind of thing that will retain her attention a lot. She also loves listening to music and dancing and musical instruments. Reading her books while pointing at things that she knows the name of is also a big favorite.
I hope this helps a bit!

[lovetheheights]

just to add to the convo, and I know all kids are different- but my 1yo dd plays with everything you hand her- toy or not- there is a curiosity there that I see why you are concerned might be lacking.

You are a great caregiver to pay attention like this, and fwiw, I do think it's more age appropriate to play more. When I see other kids my dd's age, they are all engaged and playing- does this child engage appropriately?

[lexmas]

I'm on kid #2 that doesn't really play with toys. I'm with Laurienna...box of small things with supervision, that's what works for us. Or things like pop bottles, that's always strangely held a fascination too. It sounds pretty normal to me, but I'm sure there are kids that play a lot with toys and such at that age too. Every kid is different.