Does anyone else find it so hard to play with their kids :(

So my toddler is about to be 3 next month and she is in an imaginative stage. I’m a SAHM and she wants to pretend play and because I’m so exhausted all the time (and honestly depressed af) I cannot work up the energy to be imaginative. I do take the time out but it’s really hard and I mostly say I can’t rn. Every time I walk in her sight she chases me down with her toys to play lol. And I feel so bad cause most of the time I just don’t want to 😭

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In the same boat! My toddler 3 in June and this has been a really hard phase in regards to playing. I have an 8mo too and I dread playing sometimes.

@Haley I feel like such a bad parent because I don’t enjoy it 😩 I enjoy otter things like having her ride her bike or scooter outside while I chill or we color or do crafts but playing pretend is sooooo hard and that’s all she’d rather do.

I just try to redirect to something I don't hate so much. Board games, puzzles, drawing, coloring, crafts, exploring outside, reading together. I very much do not like to pretend play.

@Katlyn the only thing she would rather do is read and crafts but the crafts are a lot of preparation so it’s not something we do weekly as far as crafts go and reading I love as well as she but it’s mostly a bed time thing.

Could you try and craft with something that is really low prep? Like making figures out of pipe cleaners or wikki stix. Or using sidewalk chalk.

I've always felt really awkward with little kids' pretend games too. But I feel it's important to her development to at least try. When she wants to play ice cream store or something, I act pretty serious and take the time to teach her. For instance, it's not hard to pick up a toy or whatever and say hi miss, I want to buy this, how much does it cost? The more you do it, the more natural it'll feel. You'll be happy you did. My personal motivation is reminding myself that one day, she won't want my attention and I'll miss it, so make the most of it while you can.

I made specific times of the day where I played with them and then they had to self regulate. When you make a schedule at least for me it worked out well. Kids knew what to expect and what not to expect. One on one time is important for their growth And when you’re an older mom like me, you will see it’s important for you also. My granddaughter asked me to sit and watch cartoons with her. It feels awful to tell her no. But as I am in the craft room, I listen to our cartoons and talk to her about them.

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