I just want my kids to play with other kids!

[Anonymous]

Just a vent. I’m tired of being my kids’ playmates and full time working parent from home. Honestly even if I was a full time SAHM I’d feel tired of being my kids’ playmate, and it’s not ideal anyway for their development! My kids do a really great job of playing with each other, but the older kid tends to dominate the agenda. I feel bad for my younger kid and will play dolls house etc with her. She needs a friend to do that! We won’t be vaccinated till at least may 1 — and who knows how much later after that — so this seems so far off. Until then we do take the kids to playgrounds but I feel like I have to watch them carefully to make sure they’re playing with masked kids, who are wearing their masks properly (a tall order). Just wishing the vaccine distribution would speed up for dc. That’s all. Just a vent.

[Anonymous]

How old are they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are they?

K and second grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a vent. I’m tired of being my kids’ playmates and full time working parent from home. Honestly even if I was a full time SAHM I’d feel tired of being my kids’ playmate, and it’s not ideal anyway for their development! My kids do a really great job of playing with each other, but the older kid tends to dominate the agenda. I feel bad for my younger kid and will play dolls house etc with her. She needs a friend to do that! We won’t be vaccinated till at least may 1 — and who knows how much later after that — so this seems so far off. Until then we do take the kids to playgrounds but I feel like I have to watch them carefully to make sure they’re playing with masked kids, who are wearing their masks properly (a tall order). Just wishing the vaccine distribution would speed up for dc. That’s all. Just a vent.

I’m in your situation with 7 and 4 yo. In the fall we found a pandemic friend for 4 yo this past fall whose parents are strict with masks and we meet outside only. It makes a big difference. This was through an online preschool, but can you maybe post on a local parent page? There are definitely lots of families out there with a similar situation. We now have a handful of families we meet with and I think it helps normalize it for the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a vent. I’m tired of being my kids’ playmates and full time working parent from home. Honestly even if I was a full time SAHM I’d feel tired of being my kids’ playmate, and it’s not ideal anyway for their development! My kids do a really great job of playing with each other, but the older kid tends to dominate the agenda. I feel bad for my younger kid and will play dolls house etc with her. She needs a friend to do that! We won’t be vaccinated till at least may 1 — and who knows how much later after that — so this seems so far off. Until then we do take the kids to playgrounds but I feel like I have to watch them carefully to make sure they’re playing with masked kids, who are wearing their masks properly (a tall order). Just wishing the vaccine distribution would speed up for dc. That’s all. Just a vent.

I’m in your situation with 7 and 4 yo. In the fall we found a pandemic friend for 4 yo this past fall whose parents are strict with masks and we meet outside only. It makes a big difference. This was through an online preschool, but can you maybe post on a local parent page? There are definitely lots of families out there with a similar situation. We now have a handful of families we meet with and I think it helps normalize it for the kids.

Thanks! We have been able to do that for our older kid (and the younger kid tags along). For some reason we have not managed to find others for our younger kid. I think I just have to keep trying. She’s a great kid!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are they?

K and second grade.

You need to teach them to play with each other. That’s why you had them, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are they?

K and second grade.

You need to teach them to play with each other. That’s why you had them, right?

Did you read my post? They play great with each other. But I can’t force my son to play dolls with my daughter!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are they?

K and second grade.

You need to teach them to play with each other. That’s why you had them, right?

Did you read my post? They play great with each other. But I can’t force my son to play dolls with my daughter!

You can. He needs to play what she wants for a short period of time - even just 15 minutes. It will serve him well.

[Anonymous]

Daycares do virtual learning assistance now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are they?

K and second grade.

You need to teach them to play with each other. That’s why you had them, right?

Did you read my post? They play great with each other. But I can’t force my son to play dolls with my daughter!

Is that because of gendered play? Or developmental stage?

He may not want to play “family” but I don’t see why they could play “animal hospital” or “toy store” or “camping” or any number of toy based pretend games that should appeal to both age groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are they?

K and second grade.

You need to teach them to play with each other. That’s why you had them, right?

Did you read my post? They play great with each other. But I can’t force my son to play dolls with my daughter!

Is that because of gendered play? Or developmental stage?

He may not want to play “family” but I don’t see why they could play “animal hospital” or “toy store” or “camping” or any number of toy based pretend games that should appeal to both age groups.

Oops. I don’t see why they “couldn’t.” With similar aged kids I’ve found a suggestion like this often opens things up. Granted that siblings who are very tired of each other may not be willing to prompts like this.

[Anonymous]

My older kids are girls (7 and 5) and they play together. They are e same sex, but are different and like different things. They fight sometimes and I have to remind them to take turn when deciding what game they play. You should make sure your son lets his younger sister decide some... it’s educational I think for both. It’s not right for the older boy to always dominate and the younger girl to passively accept whatever he wants.

[Anonymous]

How about friends or kids in the neighborhood? Can you get them together outside at a playground now that the weather is warming up? My kids are older (older elementary and middle school) and they meet up with friends outside at a soccer field or a playground. They've done this since last May.

Expecting your kids, as some have said here, to play with one another and ONLY one another for a year straight is not healthy or reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Are you willing to drive an hour? Pennsylvania is vaccinating out of state residents and the eligibility criteria is wider and honestly they do not check. Walgreens near edgewater Maryland etc. there is no reason to wait until may 1. There are plenty of appointments in more trumpy places where demand is soft. And don’t let anyone make you feel bad. We are months into vaccination and in a race against the variants.

[Anonymous]

Zero reason they can't play with friends outside. None.