Mom sparks debate with revelation that she never plays with her kids: 'I just said no'
This mom refuses to play with her toddlers and urges them to play alone instead. While she has her reasons for doing so, people have other opinions about this parenting method.
One of the joys of having a baby is being able to bond and connect with them. Parents mainly enjoy doing this by playing with their kids and experiencing their purest emotions. However, the same can also be exhausting after a while. Many parents have their own preferences when it comes to playtime with their kids. Mom KC Davis shared her preference on the matter in a video shared in March 2024, explaining that she has never played with her kids and is extremely comfortable with the same. In her video, she explains why she isn’t interested in playtime and cited her reasons for the same. However, fellow parents and others had debatable opinions about her revelation.
“The reason that I have kids who are four and six who let me sleep in on a Saturday is because they’ll just go play,” the mom said. The mom further mentioned that the sole reason why her kids play independently is because every single time they asked her to play over the years, she denied their request. The mom acknowledges in the video that her parenting style may bring in conflicting opinions, deeming her a “horrible parent” who doesn't want to play with her kids. “Hear me out. I’m not saying don’t spend time with your kids. I’m not saying don’t be playful with your kids, I’m not saying don’t connect with your kids,” the mom says in the clip.
“I bake with my kids, I do art with my kids, I go on walks with my kids, I go to the museum with my kids,” the mom shared. She also revealed that she does other fun activities with her kids and revealed that she had just finished completing an art piece of the solar system with the youngsters. “Nobody tells you that the way that you get there is by saying, ‘No.’ And they’re sad about it, they’re mad about it,” she added. Davis also candidly acknowledged that one could feel like the worst parent by refusing to play with their kids. “But years down the line, they’re happy and creative, have parents who are loving and responsive and are secure enough to just go play,” the mom shared.
She also cautioned parents that saying no didn’t have to be in a mean and negative way. Instead, it can be done in polite and sweet ways just like she practiced. “It started with me saying, ‘No, thanks, sweetheart. I just want to watch you play,’ and be there in the room with them.” The mom also mentioned that one could offer other alternatives instead of playing if they didn’t want to refuse their kids’ requests. In the caption, Davis added that several factors like personalities, abilities, environment and so on also play a role in understanding whether or not kids can play alone but overall for her family, she thought that her method worked best.
Responding to Davis' unusual revelation, @mystic.momma commented, “It’s great that you teach them mommy doesn’t like to pretend because it teaches them that they don’t have to either.” @witt5 said, “This is my philosophy too. Child play is so much more creative without adult moderation or interference.” However, some parents weren’t on board. @standandabs wrote, “Playing with your child is so important.” @fruorkyala commented, “I had a mom who didn't play with me and did only things she enjoyed with me as you mentioned. We don’t talk now that I’m an adult.”
@domesticblisters Replying to @Vanessa Kay caveat: your own kids ages, unique abilities, siblings, developmental pace and personalities along with your home layout and environmental constraints will obviously come in to play when it comes to their ability to play independently. There are other factors at play but this is the factor that made the difference for us ##strugglecare##mentalhealth##ADHD##autism##independantplay##parentingtiktok ♬ original sound - Kc Davis
You can follow KC Davis (@domesticblisters) on TikTok for more content on parenting.
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