This blog post is all about the positives of quitting trying to entertain your child.
The modern world has taught mothers that they should be focused on their children every waking hour.
Everything their little one asks for should be granted immediately.
Nothing has led more mothers to resent motherhood than this theory that they must entertain their children every waking hour.
There are many social media pages that guilt-trip moms for not entertaining their children. They make mothers feel like they are going to cause serious trauma issues for not playing with dolls or cars with their children.
That cannot be further from the truth. I fell down that rabbit hole where I thought about activities, sensory bins, ABSOLUTELY no screen time, going outdoors no matter the weather, the list can go on. I resented motherhood, and it made it so unenjoyable.
So I quit. I quit stressing out about when I was going to get my duties as a homemaker done and just started doing them while the kids were up. I quit planning my day around them and started building a family around responsibilities and fun. IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE, and I’m here to share with you what will happen once you quit trying to entertain your child every waking hour!
You don’t need to entertain your child all the time. Letting them be on their own brings important benefits.
Quit Trying to Entertain Your Child
Your Child Will Become More Independent
The first thing you will experience is what a capable child you have. They will start solving their own problems, one way or another, instead of whining until you solve them for them.
We can often hold our children back more than we think, even with our presence. Especially when we try to control how they play or use phrases like “be careful” instead of letting them figure it out.
Their Curiosity Will flourish.
Everyone on planet Earth is more curious when no one is watching.
It’s the time to “test the waters” and see how much you can do without an audience.
This helps them build confidence, resilience, and problem-solving.
Self- Regulation
As mothers, we always tend to regulate our children’s emotions and fix their problems. There is definitely a time and a place where that is necessary. BUT what they really need is to see you model self-regulation.
Your task here on earth is to raise capable children. People who possess self-regulation or self-control make a difference.
{RELATED: BIBLICAL HOMEMAKING SCHEDULE FOR STAY AT HOME MOMS}
Children Become More Helpful
Children are the epitome of monkey see, monkey do. It’s just in their nature.
A lot of the influence we carry into adulthood is from what our parents modeled more than what they said.
Having your children be a part of your daily responsibilities does not equal child labor. On the contrary, it is something they sincerely need to be taught.
When you stop trying to entertain your child, they will start shadowing you around the house. If you’re doing chores, they want to do chores. If you’re folding laundry, they want to fold laundry.
LET THEM. What you sow now, you reap later.
Their Attention Span Increases
When you quit trying to entertain your child and cause those spikes of dopamine in their little brain, they will discover the long-forgotten feeling of boredom.
If they experience boredom, it isn’t your job to fix it for them.
When you let them twiddle their fingers for a little while, they will come up with something to play. Honestly, sometimes their own creative and imaginative play seems more fun than any structured play I would’ve created.
They will build with toys longer than ever before. They will start exploring, building, or imagining their play!
You become their Mother instead of their friend.
Your children, especially toddlers, DO NOT need you to be a friend; instead, they need a confident mother.
They need a mom who models responsibility, self-control, discipline, kindness, hard work, joy, peace, and many other attributes.
Be their mother first—friendship will follow.
You start to understand your God-given role as a mom. Deuteronomy 6:4-8 & Proverbs 22:6 & Many more!
{RELATED: HABITS OF A GODLY MOTHER}
You Enjoy Spending Time With Them
When you constantly entertain your child every waking hour, something else has to give, and usually that is your responsibilities as a homemaker.
BUT when you do life alongside your children, you will open up a new window of time you didn’t know existed.
All of a sudden, your daily tasks are done, and you can also spend intentional time with your children and be a present mom.
It will make this time much more enjoyable since you won’t have the constant stress of what needs to get done.
You Will Reclaim Your Peace & Home
One of the biggest gains from not entertaining your child all the time is that your homemaking and motherhood become more manageable. Creating a peaceful home environment and your own peace.
Entertaining your kids or always thinking of what to do next is draining. When you finally let that go, you will regain your peace in your mind.
Your home becomes more manageable because you can tackle tasks right away rather than waiting for the window to open up.
Conclusion: Stop Entertaining Your Kids
Kids do not need to be entertained. You are not a failure or less of a mother because you do not entertain your kids, whether that’s with toys, sensory bins, activities, or arranged play dates.
When children are allowed to experience boredom and engage in independent play, they become well-rounded people. They become independent, curious, helpful, confident, and great problem solvers.
You are doing great mama!
SIMPLE Guide to Transition from Entertaining to
This guide won’t go into depth on every aspect, but here are a few straightforward steps to help you get started.
Let’s consider what type of Mother the Bible calls you to be, as this shapes intentional parenting.
Learning what kind of mother God wants you to be can free you from that lingering mom guilt when you’re not spending every waking moment with your children.
When you feel that guilt creeping in as you care for your home, remind yourself of these scriptures.
A few scriptures that I cling to are:
Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-8 – “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”
1 Corinthians 13:4 – “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant.”
Titus 2:4-5 – “…and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”
2. Next, think about your priorities as a Christian Mom. Clarifying these will guide your journey.
Figuring out what your priorities are helps you fill in your days with what truly matters.
3. The journey begins with just starting and being patient.
There is no secret formula for moving from entertaining to intentional parenting; you just need to begin. It might be challenging at first, especially for little ones used to having your full attention all day.
You are NOT neglecting your children by getting things done around the home.
You’ll soon get used to having your little ones follow you and offer to help. Let them participate, and try not to micromanage or overcorrect.
4. Finally, make space for intentional Time Together.
You may be moving away from constant entertainment, but always make time throughout the day to be fully present with your children.
By committing these moments each day, you build lasting bonds and model purposeful presence for your children, helping your family thrive together in faith and connection.
