I am going mad. My daughter seems bored all the time. She plays very well with her 4 year old brother, but they only play with his toys which are usually cars. They always play in his room. They never play in her room. She doesn't play with her own girl toys. The only thing she enjoys is playing outside - riding her bike or scooter, and doing arts and crafts. She can't seem to focus on doing something by herself.
2007-01-25 12:12:03 · 14 answers · asked by zooper 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
This is the way some kids are "programmed". They haven't the slightest clue how to entertain themselves. Others, are practically born knowing how to do this.
Teach her how to play alone. Let her play with her little brother for awhile, and then maybe suggest to her that she try finding something to do by herself. She'll probably say "Like what?" which is what most kids say. You say "Find something to do" and they say "Like what? What am I supposed to do?" If she asks this, give her a list of things to do. Put together a puzzle, read or look at books, put a fashion show on with her Barbies, make a castle out of blankets and pillows, etc. Make sure though, that they are things she can do by herself and without the help of others.
Set up an area in the living room or in her room that is her play area. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just calling it "her area" will make her excited to use it. Set up some shelves and put small activities on them. A bucket of crayons and some paper, books, puzzles, etc. When she wants something to do, she can just pick something off the shelf instead of sitting around thinking "What should I do now?" She'll have a whole bunch of things to choose from this way.
2007-01-25 12:25:44 · answer #1 · answered by CelebrateMeHome 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some children just don't like to be on their own. She loves attention and playing with her younger brother is a good thing considering that most siblings will grow up fighting each other. You don't always want your child to alone anyways as her social skills are probablyy more highly adept at this age. Does she go to Kindergarden or grade 1? Maybe plan some playdates or outings so that she can entertain her friends. That may allow you some time to yourself.
2007-01-29 02:50:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there's nothing wrong with that. Maybe she is a tom boy and likes cars, playing outside, and all those other things you mentioned. I was the same way when i was a kid. I hated barbies and all the lil girly foo foo stuff.
Or.. It might be that she feels happy being her brothers friend.It's the typical big sister thing to do really.
2007-01-25 18:20:00 · answer #3 · answered by avaniqafaye 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get her some art based computer programs like Crayola Creative, and find other projects that are art based that she may be able to develop as an independent play activity. For outside, get her some indivindual games that her friends can join in on if they wish.
2007-01-25 14:50:13 · answer #4 · answered by RB 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my daughter is 6 her brother is 9 she plays in his room with his toys because she doesn't want to make her room a mess she will play in her room but only with 1 or 2 things at a time because that's easier to clean for her although she doesn't mind helping him clean his room she doesn't like to clean her own and she doesn't like others in her room that might make a mess like younger cousins she likes her things in a certain place and to stay there
2007-01-25 13:37:16 · answer #5 · answered by youhoo it's me 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be glad that your daughter has social skills. It would be much more troubling, psychologically, if she did not desire to be around other people. Also, she is helping to keep a younger sibling entertained...Why complain?!
Also, please do realize that children have different interests, and that girls and boys should not be restricted to playing with "sex appropriate" toys. It is perfectly fine for a little boy to request a doll....perhaps he will become a gentle and caring father. Just as it is okay for a girl to want to play with cars....perhaps she'll be a race car driver, or a mechanic.
2007-01-25 12:25:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Maybe she just like cars. Does she have any cars? I know I would have never played with girl toys had it not been for my sister always asking to play Barbies. I really never liked them. Maybe she'd like some remote control cars.
Could it also be that she doesn't like her room decor? Maybe she would like to redo it to make her more comfortable in there.
2007-01-25 12:23:52 · answer #7 · answered by Baby #3 due 10/13/09 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe she would play in her own room with her own toys if you got toys that appealed to her interest not just "girl toys"
2007-01-25 12:19:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
as annoying as it is it sounds pretty normal. She sounds like my daughter. If she likes doing art and craft by herself then set up a box so she can do it whenever she likes. That's what I do
2007-01-25 15:33:33 · answer #9 · answered by Rachel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try accepting her likes and dislikes and building on those, instead of focusing on what you think she should be doing.
She sounds like a completely normal 6 year old to me. Not all kids are "self-entertaining"... doesn't mean there's anything wrong with her... just that she's not self-entertaining... Like being not a red-head... or not hazel-eyed... or not knock-kneed...
2007-01-25 13:02:09 · answer #10 · answered by Amy S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋