Yesterday we took our 2 year old son to be assessed. Cause since he could sit up he has been rockin, he some times rolled his eyes to the back of his head, and would generally just rock. Sat down or stood up. When he went to get assessed we had one doctor with him and one talking to me and dad. He asked us loads of questions, family history,about autism, other things he or his brother do ect.... Then he asked us how oftern do we sit down and play with him. I said Im always around him.. Sat in the room with him, watchin telly, our PCs in there too so we're always there. But he said actually sit down and play with him.. I thought about it and Id say only about 2-3 hours a day... He looked very dissapointed at me. I feel really bad now. Cause the out come of this assessment was that there isnt anything thing wrong with him, infact hes the opposite. The other doctor that was with him gave him some tests to do starting with things like jigsaws and getting harder to things like putting coloured pins in the right holes.. He did every test they gave him right. So instead of something really bad, he is a smart little lad that rocks cause there is nothing to challenge him.... So i now feel really bad for not sitting down with him and learning him stuff.
How oftern should I sit down with them and play??

Hey don't feel bad. At least you know what the problem is and are willing to do something to change it!

I don't even think I sit and actually play that long with them! I do think its important that they learn to play their own games. My eldest is always doing something, whether its with her barbies, or colouring ect, and my babys favourite game is emptying the toybox and sitting in it! My extent of joining in her games is putting everything back in the toybox, so she can empty it again! Keeps her quiet hours! I HAVE to play with my son as he's severly disabled so cant do anything for himself, I guess thats when we all play actually, when I sit down to play with him, my eldest helps me (we often play games involving ball rolling!) and the baby usually joins in!
Its a fact of life that we can't spend 24 hours a day with our children, life and society dictates that we have to do other things, whether it be going out to work or housework ect. Plus as I said, them coming up with their own games and playing alone is a good way of them using their imagination! I always feel as long as I'm interested in what my children are doing and willing to help then they are perfectly happy. For instance, my eldest will often ask me what her barbie should wear if she's going to a party ect. So we'll sit and rummage through the clothes, choose a party outfit together and she'll happily go back to playing her game. Or my baby will be struggling to climb on her rocking snail, so I'll help her, and then she rocks herself while I occasionally clap or cheer her. They know I'm around and will help if they need me, so they are happy. I wouldn't feel bad, just think up some educational games and help him if he needs it.

i very rareky sit and play with my daughter as she never wants me to but if she comes to play with me i will get down a play with her

don't feel guilty about not 'playing' . just being around when they are playing is often all my son wants of me. he doesn't often want me messing up his game. sometimes we play with our children without noticing, what about all the funny conversations you may have, 'helping' out at the shops, getting them dressed, feeding them meals...quite often there is playful interaction going on at these times, but we don't really notice it ourselves.

I sometimes will get down on the floor with my little boy and play cars with him or we'll do a picture together, or we'll play some silly game of peekaboo or I'll make all his cuddlies 'talk' to him, but often it's just a case of responding to him when he wants my attention, which is not all the time.

Their attention spans are so short it really only does add up to a few hours and perhaps this doctor did not understand your honesty? I could say I play with my little one for a total of 3 hours, but it might be over the space of 5 or 6 hours. For instance bathtime is still playtime for us and that's 30 minutes in itself.

It is also easy for him to judge, but I don't expect he's ever had to run a household whilst looking after a little one - we all know that can be a difficult task! I know some days I eagerly await Jamie's nap, not so I can get a rest, but so I can put washing on/do the washing up/hang out laundry/hoover/clean the bathroom etc. Not tasks I want to do with a little one around who likes to unload the washing machine at every opportunity, wants to be constantly held, and hates the vacuum cleaner!

The one thing I notice is I do talk to Jamie, A LOT. And I think that's the most important thing. It's not so much the 'playing' as the 'interacting'. We sing songs and generally chat about sounds/sights/smells etc. and I also use sign language with him. For a little one, anything can be playtime, you just have to make it so. If you're doing all that as well as being a Mum to his brother and running a household then that's all you can do. Doctors can always judge and it's easy to, but sometimes the practicalities of doing all they say you should are nearly impossible.

i would say its more about quality not quantity. i very much doubt that i sit down and properly play with my daughter for 3 hours a day!