this post was submitted on 07 Sep 2025
28 points (100.0% liked)

parenting

503 readers
1 users here now

✏ Rules

  1. DO NOT DOXX YOUR KIDS - Seriously, use an alt for this comm or keep it vague; otherwise we’re centralizing info about everyone’s kids into a single place that can be easily focused on.
  2. No jokes about dead kids - I don't care how much the romanovs deserved it, or how right John Brown was, save it for another comm.
  3. No antinatalism struggle sessions

Join us on Matrix! #parenting:genzedong.xyz (read more here)

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
LENINSGHOSTFACEKILLA@hexbear.net
RedWizard@hexbear.net
28
Having a really hard time with imagination play/playing with toys (hexbear.net)
submitted 2 months ago by Acute_Engles@hexbear.net to c/parenting@hexbear.net
21 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I have ADHD and was diagnosed as an adult. Even when I'm caught up on meds and everything I'm having a severe mental block when it comes to playing with dolls and action figures and similar toys.

My kid is just barely 4 and loves playing with toys now more than they ever have before. I feel like such a shit dad because it's so hard for me to give the scene my undivided attention and I clearly don't play for long enough intervals to satisfy them.

Any tips? They're an only child and i try to deflect and go outside or suggest books or arts and crafts but once again that makes me feel like I'm telling them what to play instead of playing with them.

I am looking for advice however i will say now that just powering through and playing with the dang toys works sometimes but not nearly as often as I'd like

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] RedWizard@hexbear.net 4 points 2 months ago

What kind of toys are we talking about here? We have a number of dress up "toys" that let the kids pretend to be doctors or construction workers or cashiers, and those are a lot of fun. They drive the play by being a doctor and you just pretend they're your doctor.

When in doubt just pretend to be Italian American and put on a funny long island accents. Works every time.