My two and a half year old daughter is constantly asking me and her dad to play with her. She rarely plays on her own for more than 2-5 minutes, even when there are tonnes of toys around and despite my own suggestions or encouragement. Although I would prefer that she didn't watch too much TV during the day, I often let her so that I can do some housework in peace. When we go to playgroups she always needs my constant attention and physical proximity.
I stay close by and try to respond to her in a positive way by suggesting different activities to her and interacting with her and other children for a while. But, as soon as I take my attention away to talk to a mum next to me, she persists that I only interact with her by constanly calling me.
I find it difficult when she demands my exclusive attention, as do need to relax a bit sometimes. Her behaviour seems to improve sometimes after she has spent some energy at the playground, for example when we have been out to the park and she had a good play. This is not always possible, due to the weather or when she gets frustrated because she does not find other kids to play with at the playground. She is always looking to pair up with another child, usually follows them around for a while.. but on many occasions they are not as open and expressive as she is, so there is no interest building up and then she tries to find somebody else or of course myself who have not always got all the energy to climb up and down slides and climbing frames time after time. It seems as if she rarely finds interest and enjoyment in what she is doing and needs to be sharing it with another kid or myself. I often feel obliged to talk and be friends with everybody, especially dog owners as she really loves dogs, in order to keep her happy. Is this indicating an insecurity in my child? Is there something I can do to help her be more confident or take a more leading or self-contented independent play? She seems to be playing well with slightly older kids, especially 3 year olds and she has not got any posessive or aggressive tendencies. She is a gentle passifist.