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
Is there something specific distracting you/pulling you away? Are you looking at your phone or something?
No, it’s the executive dysfunction machine has decided we don’t want to do it. Very frustrating.
To be clear, I’m asking as a fellow ADHD-having parent of a toddler. What do you go do instead?
I end up suggesting we go outside or do something else until he relents. I really hate just leaving him to play on his own
Have you ever played dungeons and dragons?
Dungeon master for a 2 year strong weekly campaign
You have to bust those skills out at playtime, my guy! That’s precisely the kind of muscle you have been building! Just pretend you have dice. If you reframe this playtime as adventure time in the Dungeon and Dragons sense, couldn’t that break you out of this funk?