Can your 6 year old entertain him or herself?

[eli's mama]

Right now my 6 year old is out on the deck moaning and flailing around because I have to be inside cleaning. I told him that he could be inside helping me or go outside and play with his brother. He is making me INSANE. I swear he can't do anything unless I'm right there.
What can I do to encourage him? It's not all the time that I need to be inside and them outside, but the accountant is in the office which is so close to their playroom that I can't let them play while he works. My 3 year old, btw, is fine, he's outside making mudpies and playing monster trucks.
I'm thinking that I could let him inside if he stays in his room quietly, but that is almost certain disaster as his sister is sleeping in the next room and the odds of him being quiet are not good. So, any advice? Anyone got a kid who just couldn't find a thing to do? TIA!

[StephandOwen]

DS is an only child and does pretty well entertaining himself. In fact, he often asks me "can you do your work in another room?" if he's playing in the living room and wants alone time. LOL! Or he'll play in his room with books/trains (his two favorite things) for an hour or so at a time.

[ASusan]

My friends' mother used to say to us, "Only the boring are bored."

And if we continued, she'd give us a chore to do.

ETA: Sorry. That wasn't helpful. And I don't have a 6-yr-old yet. But we were about 5 when she started that treatment.

[eli's mama]

That is what I tell him.

I did give him a chore, when he came in i gave him something to clean. And he would turn around and go outside again. But he wouldn't play, just sit there and whine. So I let him come in and sit in his room, when he came out I gave him a chore. Right now he's scrubbing the inside of the front door, which he dripped popsicle juice down. ick. Complaining the whole time.

[neetling]

mine can entertain herself. (but she does have an older sister and younger brother to play with)

[emilysmama]

Ever since she learned to read, it has been super easy to keep 6 y.o.dd busy. We just give her a stack of library books. Before she learned to read, however, she was able to entertain herself, but she had no choice because we have no TV, DVD, or other children to occupie her.

[mamazee]

My dd's always been really good at entertaining herself, despite being a major extrovert. Maybe it's just a personality thing? Not an extroversion thing I don't think, but some other personality issue?

[MommyTeesa]

My daughter is the same. I'm with mamazee - she's very strong willed and extroverted, yet loves to make us miserable if we encourage her to do anything alone. She doesn't like to read (entering 2nd grade in the fall). She asks "What can I do?" yet she shoots down all of our ideas. My DD would not stay quietly in her room - she'd be alone. lol Seriously though, this is difficult and draining, even with a sibling and neighborhood kids. I say let him moan and flail, hopefully he's get bored with that?

This past week she has FINALLY played alone for an hour at a time for a few days. That is HUGE for us. Ideas: Encourage small increments of play then give praise/reward (unless you're against that ). Role model how one would play alone or have him watch his little bro to "learn" to play alone. Stress that at such and such a time/hour you will spend time with him, but right now is his time alone or to play with brother and it is his responsibility to choose what to do. Explain that it is not the mom's job to entertain him 24/7, because you have other responsibilities for the family.

[LynnS6]

If the stars are aligned and she's not desperate for my attention, dd can entertain herself for long periods of time. If she were ticked at me for needing to clean while she wanted me to play with her, then she'd behave very much like your son.

[emilysmama]

Yes, I agree. I too believe it is totally personality related. And possibly gender might play a little role in it too.

[meemee]

its just my dd and me. and i find now that hse has started school during summer holidays esp. she wants to play more with me. with ME. she can do it alone, but she still wants me. i do sometimes.

[confustication]

"I'm booooooooooored..." around here results in a list of stuff to choose from- including chores. If she can't find something to occupy herself, I am happy to step in with suggestions.

sweep the floor
dust the furniture
go trim the dead stuff off the flowers in the garden
fold the laundry
read a book
color a picture


and so on..

Most of the time, if she's saying she is bored, she actually gravitates towards doing the 'chores' instead of the fun stuff on the list. It works for us!

(We started this approach when she was about 4, I think.)