Does not want to play by themselves | ADHD Information

First of all, cherish this time! One day you're daughter will NEVER be home. My 10 year old is always out with her friends and even when we're playing a board game, if a friend comes over she wants to be with her friends. Along those lines, does she have little friends in the neighborhood who could amuse her? I've raised five kids to ten (so far and that better be it ) and, in my experience, some play well alone and some need other people and are social animals. Even at 29 years old (yes, I have one son who is as old as most of you), this particular son is always surrounding himself with people. My other son (28) is quieter and more apt to want to play on the puter or watch sports. pammar38968.3710648148

DANIEL NEVER USE TO BE SOCIAL BUT NOW HE IS.

The timer sounds like an idea and as far as the gameboy my husband ruined that for her.  She would get stuck and frustrated so he would play with her and help her get passed the hard part so now when she gets stuck she refuses to play unless he plays with her. 

The newest last evening she told me "if you do not play with me I will kick you", so she ended up in her bedroom with me holding the door for she refused to leave the bedroom which equaled meltdown.  I am getting so burned out with her and was glad she was able to go to school today.  Then I feel guilty for my thoughts.

Our son is the same, let him play on his xbox and you don't hear a peep out of him.  His xbox has been taken away a while back.  for the summer time anyways just so he would get outside and play with friends.

We use to give him computer time but now it's pretty rare due to the fact that right before we decided to try the meds he used to play for hours on end, and he would not get off the chair to go to the bathroom, he would rather pee his pants than to get up, for fear we would tell him that was enough computer time and he should get off now.

He use to do this at school as well during recess, where he would pee his pants rather than go, for fear he would loose out on recess time.

When we started him on the meds it all stopped.

Besides computer time and xbox, there are not many things that will keep him interested to play alone.  He just loves to pester his sister and make her yell all the time.  she is 12 yrs old and has the Talk too much drama queen syndrom...lol

Jillette- I'm in the same boat as you.  Sometime I have to stand my ground and say "we have been playing all day" It's mommy's turn to relax".  Not that it goes over well all the time, but sometime it does.  Other things I do is explain that I will play a game with him now and after the game he will have to play something on his own.  AND...  that does not work everytime, but sometime is does.  hehe

The game boy suggestion... . ok I'm guilty of that....  and it does work wonders when you really need to downtime.  But sadly, it was drop in the toilet (by my son who did not want to put it down while potting) and, after I got it out (eeww), it never worked again.   We are debating if we should replace it. 

I set the timer for my son and give him 10 minutes to play by himself .. no computer, not videogames (he doesnt have any anyway) and he's to play in his room until the timer goes off. Eventually, you can increase that time.

You might want to start with 5 minutes. Maybe you can create a schedule to follow. That usually helps. Have your child create the schedule with you.

The only thing Brandon likes to do now by himself is play computer games or talk to our friends on MSN. He's 11 and isn't interested in any of his toys anymore.

OK, this is an idea, and probably not a really good one, but the one thing my dd plays with alone and for a long time is the gameboy.  Like I said, not a good idea.   DD also likes computer games(the educational kind mostly).

She is back to demanding I play with her day and night I can be watching TV and she will come up put a toy in my lap and demand I play.  When I say no she gets defiant and cries and yells at  me, no peace.  So then she gets a time out which leads to meltdown and further time out, then having to earn privilages back, Argggg!  What was nice is my parenting classes began tuesday at the university and I was in a room of parents who know what I am talking about beside all of us here for we are all dealing with the same.  Any ideas of how to get child to play by themselves?

  Oh and when you do play with her it is indefinete, never ends.

That is another thing we definetly need is a good friend for her.  We had a friend who wants to play with her only she lives a few blocks away and mom and dad are in the middle of divorce and both work 3rd shift I think I mentioned earlier.  I also have her enrolled in dance class and now I signed her up for gymnastics and swimming lessons (indoors) to help.jude is the same and our child psychologist recommended that we play with him a little bit but we have to let him play on his own as it helps him devellop his imagination.it is hard to do and to start with it was breaking my heart as he just was wandering round the house looking lost,but now he plays on his own more.hi. I use to have that problem with my son. He is now 8. I think because he is an only child he thinks that mom or dad has to entertain him 24/7. It gets better as they get older. He will go to his room now to watch tv or play playstation. I live in an apartment building and he finally has a friend a year older that can play with him. I am so glad for him. I mean mom can't play 24/7 i have work to do. Does she have her own bedroom? Tell her that she needs some a lone time and so does mom. Tell her to go play in her room for a while. Then tell her that you will let her know when you are ready for some daughter/mother time. This works for some kids. But not all. I would tell my son mommy has things i have to get done. So go play in your room for awhile. It does inprove with age.