4 ms·

4.5yo and very strong-willed. It’s hard to get her to do anything she doesn’t think she wants to do.

D13Fd 4y ago
I have 5 kids. It got way, way easier for mine around ages 5-6. Not only can they play on their own, they can do much more complex activities with you (hobbies, chores) and are much better at controlling their emotions.
nvahalik 4y ago
Does she see you doing things that you enjoy? Or even things that you have to do that you can bring her into? Even things like dishes, housework, going on walks—these are things that you can encourage them in. They can see your joy in them. We do this with walks—it's also one of the main reasons why we have a Switch game console. Games like Mario Kart 8 are fun for the older kids but even younger kids can "play along" and not be a burden to the rest of the folks playing. What's counter intuitive in some of this is that initially your enjoyment in these things _will be lower_. You're gonna have to slow down your walk. Take extra time to explain things. Let them try and fail. Sometimes you'll have redo what they've done. But what matters most is that they are included. They are part of the family—and their time with you and with the family is valued.
tw98521358 4y ago
It will get a bit better next year. What I suggest is lots of play dates. you can hang with another adult and they can self entertain
- freedom2099 4y ago
  I never had a play date my entire childhood… I don’t think it was something that existed back when I was a kid. All the lone children I know used to play by themselves!
- igetspam 4y ago
  Holy crap, playdates! As a parent of a single child, playdates are to best solution. You can talk to an adult, sometimes over a glass of wine and the kids entertain themselves. Change of scenery is great.
dkqmduems 4y ago
Seems common for single children. They often rely on their parents for engagement.
- freedom2099 4y ago
  Lone child… my parents never played with me! Always played by myself!

I have 5 kids. It got way, way easier for mine around ages 5-6. Not only can they play on their own, they can do much more complex activities with you (hobbies, chores) and are much better at controlling their emotions.

nvahalik 4y ago

Does she see you doing things that you enjoy? Or even things that you have to do that you can bring her into? Even things like dishes, housework, going on walks—these are things that you can encourage them in. They can see your joy in them. We do this with walks—it's also one of the main reasons why we have a Switch game console. Games like Mario Kart 8 are fun for the older kids but even younger kids can "play along" and not be a burden to the rest of the folks playing. What's counter intuitive in some of this is that initially your enjoyment in these things _will be lower_. You're gonna have to slow down your walk. Take extra time to explain things. Let them try and fail. Sometimes you'll have redo what they've done. But what matters most is that they are included. They are part of the family—and their time with you and with the family is valued.

tw98521358 4y ago

It will get a bit better next year. What I suggest is lots of play dates. you can hang with another adult and they can self entertain

freedom2099 4y ago
I never had a play date my entire childhood… I don’t think it was something that existed back when I was a kid. All the lone children I know used to play by themselves!
igetspam 4y ago
Holy crap, playdates! As a parent of a single child, playdates are to best solution. You can talk to an adult, sometimes over a glass of wine and the kids entertain themselves. Change of scenery is great.

dkqmduems 4y ago

Seems common for single children. They often rely on their parents for engagement.

freedom2099 4y ago
Lone child… my parents never played with me! Always played by myself!