by Deidra Romero posted in Parenting

When my son was 18-months-old I read a parenting book in which the author confessed she didn't like playing with her kids. I was appalled.
Who doesn't like playing with their kids" That's messed up.
My son was so fun and curious and cute and he did the sweetest things when we played together on the floor for hours a day. Then he got older and we played the same blasted things over and over and over again.
Now I get it.
I don't love playing with my 5-year-old son. There. I said it.
After about 20 minutes of focused playtime, I am like a caged animal. I'm ready to move on and do something productive in the adult world. Let me fold the clothes or pluck my eyebrows or do my taxes. I just need a break!
There's a guilt that creeps in on me particularly about playtime. I spend a lot of time with my kids--going to the park, running errands, doing crafts and taking walks. But actually sitting on the floor playing" I don't do a lot of that.
I mean, how much time do kids actually need of one-on-one playtime with parents"
We all know it's crucial for their development.
Not only is it important for skill-development, but it forges the bond that your parenting relationship is built on. I learn a lot about my son through our playtime together. I'm able to gauge his strengths and growth-points. Sometimes when we role play we can work out issues that have occurred earlier in our day.
Kids need to play with other kids too.
As an adult ...