At what age... - Page 2

[DevaMajka]

Ds1 isn't an only, but he was 5yo when ds2 was born. He was probably about 5 (about when he started kindergarten) when he was able to entertain himself for more than a minute or two.

I do think it's a personality thing- ds1 was, and still is, VERY social. He loves interacting with other people, and isn't introverted at all. Sometimes, now at age 6, he seems to enjoy playing lego or other toys on his own, but usually he prefers to be with someone else. It used to really wear me out! Like a pp said, he's now very capable of being on his own if I ask him to leave me alone (though I always say it nicer!)
The good thing about his personality is that he does really well in kindergarten- he's friendly and kind to the other kids, likes being in school, and in general, he's fun to be around. Oh, and another benefit is that I never had to worry about him running away from me in stores! He made sure he was always pretty close. (ds2 doesn't seem to care where I am, and will just wander off)

Ds2 is 15mos, and already he'll entertain himself for a bit (sometimes 10+ minutes) with toys while I tidy up, cook dinner, etc.

[dawncayden]

Can you fit a small table and chair in the kitchen or near the kitchen?

We had one there and it was great for playdough, or drawing, or even just a surface of his own that was just for him to help me chop something. Or he could use it for play food.

When I need space I usually just get really boring and somehow his toys or books seem more exciting
Although I haven't had a problem wiht him entertaining himself or watching tv, so I think it's a personality thing too.

At this age you can work on 'alone time'. Set a timer for 5 minutes and you both have alone time. Do this everyday, and increase the timer little by little. Talk about this with him the day before you start so he has time to digest what you are saying, and ask him to think of things he can do in his alone time. Maybe draw, play a special game, playdough, read, legos...
After the alone time, make sure you come back together and have some cuddles and stories etc. It won't seem like much 'alone time' at first but soon you'll have 30 minutes of alone time and then longer

[LauraN]

I want to add a voice of hope--Ds1(now 8) was just like that. If I was cooking I found that putting his stool at the sink with just a trickle of water coming out of the tap and a bunch of non-breakableI dishes was the only thing that kept him busy for long enough to let me get dinner made. Nothing else worked. I think around 4 he started being able to do tasks that were actually helpful, and now at 8 he makes snacks for himself and his siblings and prepares side dishes for dinner. He only likes preparing things that require some work, though--like he'd rather peel and slice carrots and add lemon and salt to them than to just grab a yogurt from the fridge .
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