Hi! I have a 2 wonderful daughters - 2 year-old and a 1 year-old. I am fortunate to have a helper around the house to help me do all of the household chores. Ever since we got a help, i've been spending more time with my daughters and I love it. However, i have not been able to do my other personal things that I need to do such as study for my graduate classes on-line because they both insist on playing with me the whole day! I feel like I have become a playmate to them. I am wondering if there is a way to teach my daughters how to play independently from me. Can you share to me how your days are with your children? What sort of activities do you do? What's your daily schedule like? Thanks!
Thanks for the tips! I haven't tried the clock idea yet but i'll try to do that within the next few days. My daughter is starting to learn numbers and she is gets excited when we do something that involves numbers. So, I hope it works! Thanks again! I love this site! I feel like I have just acquired so many girlfriends in an instant. :-)
Create a schedule.
Print it out and stick to it.
If it is study time then study.
I'd put play time after your study time.
I'd also give her a clock that she can read - take a digital and put tape over the minutes.
"When the clock says 11, then I can play with you".
Then it's the clock determining the time, not you.
YMMV.
I'm just guessing that since you can afford household help that you can probably swing childcare help also?? Or maybe combine the two in one person and hire a part-time nanny that also does housework? That way, you'd get a few hours to do your work alone, yet still have the time to spend with your daughters. I have 3 kids ranging in age from 19 years to 16 months and I can tell you that even if your girls are playing independently, they'll still need something every so often and it's tough to concentrate on anything! It just might be a little too much to expect them to play alone for very long...they're just too young. The response about showing them the clock and telling them what time you can play is a great suggestion for when they're a little older and can read. At the ages of 2 and 1, you can't expect them to be so patient and understanding..Good luck!
My son is 18months. He dosen't independently all the time on his own and I really don't want him to do that all the time. But when he goes off I let him. Our whole home is baby proff and there isn't much and can get into and what he can like bathroom I just shut the door. So if we are playing and he walks a way I get up and check e-mail or in your case grab your book to study!
I would love to know how you found help with housework. I am expecting baby number two and my husband just started a new job that will require him to work long hours so I was hoping to find someone to come in 2-3 times a week to help with laundry, cleaning and some cooking and have no idea how to find someone like that.
I have a 17m DD. When she's awake, I'm either running after her, or she's in the playpen for a bit. If there's work or something that I need to do, I either wait for nap time or bed time. Otherwise, I just get interrupted and get nothing done.
M.
hi!
my son is an only child and seems to believe i am his personal entertainment! i love him but, seriously, i think i'm getting brain damage! i can only play buzz lightyear for so long! (and why do i always have to be woody? can't i get a turn to be buzz?!?!?!)
a few months ago i noticed he could play independently for a few minutes. ten minutes at the most. when i noticed this i capitalized on it. i would sit nearby with a book. he played while i read and after a few minutes my son would come over to me. i stretched this time out by saying i could play with him in a few minutes but i was reading right now. gradually he learned to play a little longer. also, as a plus he figured out he could look at his own books while i was reading. anyway, this of course does not always work and never works late in the day like when i need to cook dinner! hope this helps!
