Playing with your kids

I was watching Supernanny last night. I really like that show. Initially when I watch, I wonder how in the heck a parent can let their children get so out of control. I mean, these parents really grow to resent their kids! They are MISERABLE!

Did you see the show last night? The laughing lady? Yeah, she was driving me batty!!! I could not believe that a simple trip to the drug store could be so completely out. of. control.

But as the show progresses, I sometimes feel a sense of guilt. Supernanny is very into schedules. Scheduled times to wake, eat, sleep, run errands and PLAY. I think she would be a bit appalled at my lack of a schedule.

Now I definitely believe in somewhat of a schedule, like for sleeping. I read once that the only time you can leave it up to a child as to how much sleep they get is when they are infants. I completely agree. Of course, I can't make my kids fall asleep, but I can definitely make sure my little one is in a cuddly and quiet bed for naptime, and all kids are tucked in bed at a reasonable hour. We have a neighbor with a second grader whom we see outside on walks at 9 (or later) at night! They were going in to eat dinner at 8 p.m. last night? And that neighbor complains that her daughter is a bear to get up in the morning. Is she serious!? (They are a little strange anyway, I should post a photo of their "political" signs in their yard. That is a whole post in itself....interesting...)

Anyway, what I really have a hard time with is a schedule for playtime. Supernanny advises parents to have scheduled times to sit down and play, or color, or do crafts... every day.

I do not play with my kids like that. Yes, we sometimes go on fun outings, yes, we play games sometimes, yes, I will go outside and play baseball or soccer once in a while. But no, not all the time. And no, I do not spend hours playing dolls, house, school, etc. etc. And I do not make up games for them to play. I leave that up to their own imagination.

Many times (most times), my kids play by themselves. Even during the day when my oldest is in school, my youngest plays by herself a lot. I guilt sometimes. Especially when I am doing something like blogging. But I also do a lot of other things like cleaning, laundry, yard work, bills, etc. And believe me, my house is far from perfect.

But, for some reason, my youngest Kallie is happiest when I am hard at work. When I am cleaning upstairs, she gathers up her blanket, a few toys and her drink and lays down in the doorway of each room as I clean it. She loves watching me and loves helping me. The other day, Kallie helped me pick up sticks in the front yard. She loved it!

And we also go run errands, or visit grandparents. So I am definitely not neglecting her. But I do not spend a lot of time sitting down and playing with her when we are just home during the day. My mom NEVER played with us (that was usually my Dad's job). And we turned out OK I think.

But Kallie has also learned to play so well by herself. Right now she has her Barbie and the prince doll and they are dancing together. I am not kidding, she will just hold these dolls and have them "dance" for HOURS.

So, what do you do? Do others really have scheduled "playtime"?