All my kids have been fairly similar when it comes to toys and playing. My oldest would sit for hours in his room playing with trains, cars and legos. He was constantly writing comic books and reading the newest book series that was out. He was content playing alone or with others. Alex was pretty much the same. She loved drawing, playing with her stuffed animals and collecting Littlest Pet Shops. When Shane came along, he couldn't have more different. I assumed he'd love all of Max's toys I'd saved but he just wasn't interested. At all. He is happy outside and if he can't be outside he wants to play board games or video games.
He has never been interested in imaginative play and still isn't. It just goes to show that that's how he's hardwired and it appears that I can't do much to change it. Actually, I don't try to change him but I have searched for things to do indoors that will hold his attention.
Since Shane threw me for such a loop, I really hoped Marianne would enjoy all the cool toys I'd kept for her and I also hoped that she'd be able to play alone. Solo play is big for me. Generally, I've never been the parent that sits and plays with my kids. I'll play board games and I'll get something set up for them and lead the way to get them started but after that I like to move away and let them play on their own. Obviously some things require me being very involved but I want them to be ok on their own and not rely on me as a playmate.
I wasn't sure exactly how Marianne played because she has always been with Shane. When he started school last September I was able to get a clearer picture of her "play style". She's very imaginative and loves working with her hands. Play dough is her favorite. She also enjoys helping me with chores like folding laundry and doing the dishes.
She also loves playing with Alex's old dollhouse.
I'm curious about Maggie. Right now she reminds me of how Max was at her age...a little ball of destruction.
What do your kids like playing with? Or, what toys did you enjoy as a child?
♥ anne
I have two boys and they are night and day with how they play. My oldest (7) has never been too interested in toys unless we were constantly sitting to play with him. In general he's much more into playing outside, playing sports or games and video games. My youngest (4) will play for a couple of hours by himself happily with all sorts of toys. All the great toys we'd got for our oldest are actually getting their use with him.
ReplyDeleteThey play well together to a certain extent, but I do notice that my oldest will take notice and some degree of interest in old toys that my youngest has taken up. I'd guess that's probably out of jealousy. They like to build forts together with pillows and blankets inside and they also both enjoy spending time on art projects like painting and coloring. They both enjoy play dough and magic/kinetic sand, but only for short periods of time.
I've never had two boys close in age, I'm sure that would change the dynamic greatly. My sister and I built pillow forts too, it was always so much fun :) My kids have never played with magic sand, I'll have to get some of that!
DeleteI love hearing about all their styles�� Hannah and Madeleine-- similarly love dress up and playing "mommy" to their baby dolls, dancing and singing. Both imagine well but Hannah can sit still, Madeleine, not at all! Both prefer me involved and often insist. However, Hannah is known to get lost in her little world happily and has been helping Madeleine discover her imagination...and life away from Mommy. I understand needing space from their play! no shame there.
ReplyDeletebiggest difference: Hannah loves books and "getting cozy to watch a movie"... Madeleine loves to intrude book time by tearing the pages, throwing the books, climbing all over us, not paying attention at all to the actual book. She can't watch a movie for more than 5 seconds-- this was pretty shocking to me bcs Hannah from day 1 was completely mesmerized whenever the TV was on and o could count on it as a helpmate to me when I needed, never with Madeleine☺️
pretty sure your beautiful wood dollhouse wouldn't be touched by either H or M-- they just don't seem to hold their attention, which is sad for me who would love to see them drool over it��
Madeleine sounds like how Shane was at that age. He didn't watch tv until he was almost 2, which is great but tv does come in handy when you need to make dinner. I love that Madeleine and Hannah are so close in age, it reminds me of me and Jenn. I hope they are as close as we are :)
DeleteLucy never ever played alone. She was a mover and a shaker from the start (and we had serious conversations about being a one kid family because she was so exhausting!). I pretty much was unable to put her down until she was 18 months, and even now with a 5 month old, she asks more of me than the baby. June on the otherhand is so content on the floor with a bucket of toys in front of her, as long as I peek in on her every few minutes or talk to her, she could be there for a good half an hour--such an amazing thing after having a high energy and high needs kid!
ReplyDeleteIf Shane had been my first I would have felt the same way! He was the most difficult but he made me a much better parent and helped me to stop judging other kids and parents.
DeleteYour girls are so adorable! I love getting a little glimpse of them through ig :)
Well, we only had the two and they are very different. Oscar was the sociable, always moving always talking child....and now that I've read about Shane I can see how Oz wasn't interested in imagination play either. For example, he'll build lego, but then that is it, he doesn't play with it. Entertaining him was really time consuming and energy consuming...which led to me going back to work! Then Miss Mia came along and she is a lone player. Always content to be with herself. Great pictures Anne!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely about not being a very good playmate for my kids. I want them to play on their own or with each other. I try to start them up with activites, but then step away and go get stuff done (or read a book, if I'm being honest.) Sena is great at entertaining herself-- she is always writing, reading, drawing, crafting, or locked away playing with her dolls. Gus, on the otherhand, needs friends or he goes straight for the ipad. In the summer, it's not so hard. In the windert, he can drive me a little bonkers. Here's hoping the two youngest are good at keeping themselves busy, at least some of the time.
ReplyDeleteGranny, http://www.escarpinslouboutinpaschers.fr comment cela va-ah. Esprit curieux, Louboutin soldes en ligne demandez une femme debout à côté de la route. Louboutin soldes en ligne A été frappé Louboutin soldes en ligne l'homme à genoux sur le sol accrochés aux jambes mendicité, derrière l'homme de main brutalement battu aucune question de côté. Coup lui côté, Louboutin Pas Cher Louboutin soldes en ligne bruyamment maudit sa mère, vous savez combien d'argent je pantalon, et vous m'a donné sale accompagne vous jouez.
ReplyDelete