How much time do you spend with your toddler?

Question

I mean actively playing or doing something with them, not just saying 'yes thats lovely' while playing on the computer or doing the washing up!
I mean solely concentration on the child.
I'm talking mainly about toddlers aged 1 - 2

concentrating, not concentration. Sorry

For the person who said I spend 24/7 with my kids...so do I and I am not asking that I am asking how much you spend just playing with the child. Now you cant tell me you spend 24 hours a day playing with him/her!

Answer 1

My 2 year old gets about 4 hours of quality time a day (full time mom)(reading, tickling, playing with blocks, doing puzzles,art projects).

I TRY to make all of the time I am with him into quality time. He rides on the vacuum cleaner like a horse, he loves to help me cook and I explain what things are (that's an egg and it comes from a chicken...what does a chicken say?) and what I am doing(I am stirring the eggs and the sugar together...).

It is also important for children to learn how to entertain themselves. My son plays alone with his toys for 1 to 2 hours a day (we try anyway).

If you are doing the best that you can, and your child seems to be content, don't worry about it. Parents are human, after all, we make mistakes too.

Answer 2

2 year old - Probably not enough but I think I average about 5 hours a day, but that includes meal times (and he helps set the table and puts the dishes away so he is actively involved with me!) But we sit around the table for every meal with no distractions so I think that is quality time as well. He also helps with the housework - he loves hoovering and going around with the fluffy duster that acts like a magnet to dust so it's an easy task and usually well done!
I also have a 7 and 5 year old so the time they are at school is when I get the most peace with the 2 year old.
I don't think anyone with any more than 1 child can spend much longer than a few hours each day. I am a stay at home mum and unlike one of the mothers at home, I don't think being home 24/7 actually means you spend 24 hours a day with them - that's just impossible! She didn't actually say how much quality time she did spend. I guess not enough!

PS We do do child loads of orientated activities as well - just in case any one is wondering!!
And the TV is hardly on in the daytime so nearly all of what he learns is from me!
Bear in mind the concentration span of a child that age and the fact that learning to sit and play quietly on their own is also an important skill to learn. They need time to explore and discover things on their own too.

Answer 3

I am not sure that's a fair question. I only spend about an hour a day (actually playing with her) during the week. My husband and I both work full time and by the time we pick her up and get home it's nearly 6 pm (we also have nearly an hour commute from our works to my mother's, who does her day care). So, we all need to eat dinner, she needs a bath, the laundry, pick up the house, pay the bills, my husband has some work from home to do and she goes to bed around 9:30 and we are close to follow because we get up at 5 am. People who get to be stay at home parents have a large advantage, but I think a college fund and a trust fund is more important, and she will some day understand that. On the weekends or holidays we spend hours a day doing nothing but playing with her, going swimming with her, and just being parents. We do the best we can and I think it's unfair to judge by a number of hours.

Answer 4

I would say I spend about 3-4 hours a day actively doing something with my toddler. I'm including breastfeeds and activities like getting dressed. I'd guess about 1 hour of playing or reading. Although it is a bit difficult to judge. I mean if I'm doing some housework and at the same time trying to stop my toddler undoing what I've done does that count or not? He generally has my full attention then........

Answer 5

i have a stepdaughter of 12 a son of 8 and a daughter of 2 and a half. i also work part time i don't say right i have to spend x amount of time at this time every day i just try and fit in a bit of time each day some days it may be an hour or more some days it may only be ten minutes. i would love to stay home all day baking and colouring but unfortunately I'm not able so do what you feel you can and don't feel pressured by what other mums are doing.

Answer 6

I am a working single mum and I don't spend enough time with my 3yr old son. I'd love to spend every single day with him, playing and taking him to do fun things like swimming and he loves Thomas the tank so any train related activity but unfortunately I have bills to pay, house to keep, and I also need so time on my own (I'd go mad other wise).I think that mum's that preach about spending 24/7 with their kids and that's how it should be.... and yes I'm talking about you REBECCA V must be millionaires or be the wife of a millionaire because to me its a impossibility to be able to spend the whole day with your kids! I agree with angie_laf that my day is taken up by working and cleaning and bathing etc and I leave the house at 8 and don't get back till 6. My son goes tom bed at 8pm so I probably spend 15mins a day playing with him and a 15min book EVERY night. I do try to get at least one fun activity in at the weekend but sometimes it just doesnt happen. In a perfect world I don't think any mum would work but really, what choice do we have?

Answer 7

I spend maybe 4 hours a day or so. That's a guess and doesn't count meals, getting dressed, brushing teeth, etc- just the fun stuff like playing or reading or coloring. Otherwise I am cleaning or making dinner or we are out shopping or something. I do try to involve her in that stuff when I can but sometimes I just do it. I don't spend much time on the computer when she's awake. Her nap time is my "me" time. I don't usually clean or do anything during her nap except what I feel like doing.

Answer 8

I would say try to give them at least 1 good solid hour a night, if you have more time than that, great! Ideal would be 2-4 hours. This is just my opionion formed by working with children from 1 to 8 for 12 years

Answer 9

Like you I am at home with my son obviously 24/7 but one on one time spent actually playing together is probably about 3-4 hours on a good day. He is 1 year 11 months. We just do things like a couple of hours painting or drawing, watch a film together, reading, making cakes, playing with play-doh things like that!

Answer 10

not enough time. i have a daughter who will be four and a son that is 18 months. he takes alot of my time and always has. he is very needy and clingy and gets jealous easy. even when my husband is by me. i do as much as i can with my daughter. i feel bad most days because for 2 1/2 yrs it was just us. so she got my full attention no matter what i was doing. i try to include her in things when i am doing them . she likes to help clean (not her own toys though), she dusts or likes to help my mop. i wish i didn't have other obligations so that i could spend all day doing different things with them. but thats not the case so i do the best that i can.