How much should I play with him?

[Loube]

This is probably obvious to most of you...

How much should I play with my 7 month old son? I go out most days, but stayed in today to avoid spending any money for a change! I found it difficult to entertain him all the time he was awake. Any ideas would be welcome. I feel guilty if I'm not by his side 100% of the time but I'm sure that he should be playing on his own at some point? Also, what are your views on him watching tv?

Thanks
Lou

[Liam's Mama]

If he will play on his own, I would encourage it! Like you have already stated, it is impossible to to entertain them all the time, plus I think it is healthy for them to learn to play on there own (so long as it isn't all the time!!  ) We let our LO watch one baby Einstein video in the morning at that age. Now he watches one program (usually Wiggles, Baby Einstein or Dora DVD  )  in the morning with his milk and one at night while I make dinner. If he is sick sometimes I let him watch more  Everyone has a  different view some feel no TV at all is best, some feel TV is great for LO's! I think whatever you feel comfortable with is best!! 

As far as ideas there is a sticky in Activity Time & Toddler Activity which I have found very useful and has lots of wonderful ideas to engage with our lo's!!

Hope I helped!! 
Devon

[Loube]

Great thanks for your advice  . I feel a little less guilty about leaving him play on his own and watch the TV while I was ironing  .  I'd love to know what other people think of the TV thing too.

Lou

[TDR'smom]

I think ANYTHING in moderation is fine.  I would say 1-2 programs a day is fine.  Sometimes it is absolutely necessary to get things done around the house (like ironing).

Before I had DS, I SWORE I would not let him watch television.      20 months later, he watches Baby Einstein and Wiggles DVD's for AT LEAST an hour a day.  I know many people who would completely disagree with this, however, I need it for my sanity and at least he is not watching the news or anything harmful!

[Erin M]

Yup, we do TV in moderation here too.  If your LO is happy playing by himself, then by all means, let him play by himself.  I'll often sit near my LO and do my own thing so she knows that I'm there if she needs me, but at the same time I let her do her own thing.  Basically, I would let him take the lead to some extent and play with him when he lets you know he needs you to play with him.

[jumblebox]

We've recently become a one-car family, so I definitely understand the challenge of keeping a LO occupied all day long. (If I need the car for anything, we have to drive dad to work at 7:15am, and leave again at 4:45 to pick him up... which results in 2-3 trips. Just don't feel like doing it, with the cold weather!)

DS is extremely mobile, and has the attention span of a gnat. He's played with every single toy he owns - twice! - before first nap even gets here! What I try to do is alternate independent play with closely supervised play with mom/DS play. So I might let him loose in the living room while I'm washing dishes (very next room), then hang out on the couch while he plays around me, then try to interest him in books or rolling a ball back & forth, etc.

Generally, I'm okay with limited, appropriate TV watching. I let DS watch about 30 mins per (3.5-4hr) awake time (so about 1.5 hrs total), but he's a little older than your LO. His favorite video is "Baby's Day" ( http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Babys-Day/dp/B0000YAEFW ); he also likes Teletubbies (mostly the floating baby head) and Big Big World. We also have an old Muppets sing-along video he likes. Right after dad leaves for work, DS watches Baby's Day in his exersaucer, while I start some housework. Then Teletubbies before lunch, usually loose in the living room and playing with the TV buttons. Then, while I'm trying to cook dinner, he might be in his doorway jumper (between living room & kitchen) watching Muppets or Clifford. (Then there are the days that he just refuses to stay stationary for even 5 mins, no matter what I try to tempt him with!)

[estherofi20]

I also let my DS play independantly a lot, but i do sit near where he is, and if he comes to me, he has my full attention. Everyday we go out for walks and i try to play in the garden if the day is nice too. As for TV i only let him watch Barney or the movie Cars (he is obssessed with that movie ), but no more than 45min a day, usually we watch the tv when its almost time for his bath, when he is pretty tired (so WE are both pretty tired at this point )

[Loube]

Great. Thanks everyone. I won't feel so bad now. I've been letting him watch about 20 mins per awake time so that's cool. As for independent play sounds like that's what he should be doing anyway. He loves his doorway bouncer too and his spacewalker thingy.

Thanks

[rinajack]

My lo does heaps and heaps of play "on her own" with me in the room.  I have different toys in each room. and they are in big baskets and sitting on shelves that she can reach so she usually ends up playing with different ones each time.

The toys do not swap locations.  So if we are in the kitchen, only those toys. etc.  I watch her play and talk to her about what she is doing.  If she looks like she is getting bored, I get out a toy that has a task - like stacking rings etc and help her get started on doing that. Also in the kitchen she loves the tupperware cupboard, and she also loves the pantry - bottom shelf stuff I don't care if she pulls out.  Pots and pans and a wooden spoon are also a hit.

She also watches some TV - really it depends for us on her mood, my mood and how busy I am. She likes to help me turn on the washing machine, loves to help fold clothes stands at the side of the bath watching while I shower (our shower is over our bath).  We also read heaps of books.  I would have to say, for me anyway, DH plays a bit differently, that most of my play time is to help her start a game - show her how to do things, then supervise from a little distance, and step in with a new game, or to show her how again.