Directing Play

I'm just wondering....
To what extent do other parents direct their children's play?
I have to admit that I'm pretty lazy - most of the time I just let them do their thing and I only step in when they're in danger or about to bring something from the outdoors to the indoors or things are getting a bit heated.
That isn't to say that I don't play with them. We throw balls together and have ticking sessions and so on but when they're playing happily I usually take advantage of it as some me time.
I used to get paint out for them but I always felt like I had to spend so much time making sure they didn't paint the floors and walls that it was frustrating for all of us so I stopped.
Now I'm feeling a bit worried that maybe I should be more pro-active but then, on the other hand, I worry that that would just be parenting in the fast lane and that they're better off being allowed to play at their own speed. Maybe they're learning just as much burying their trains outside as they would be painting.
:dunno:

Soooo, how do you find the balance? What do you do?

I am no earth mother when it comes to play. Sometimes I'll set up activities like drawing, playdoh, puzzles etc but I generally let my kids go for their lives. And I think its really good for imagination to do that as both my kids have amazing imaginations. I often get on the floor and play trucks or whatever with Seth, or I'll do other things with Paris but I follow their lead. I also think spontaneous play leads to more calm as well, so that if for one reason or another a certain activity is unavailable all hell doesn't break loose.

i'm a lazy mum too heheheh. Tallon pretty much does what he wants. His little safety scissors are all the rage at the moment, so he spends hours perfecting his cutting! I have to watch that all he's trying to cut is the paper tho! LOL. Sometimes he sits at the piano, other times he grabs a book and reads it lying down on the lounge (too cute ;) )

I haven't attempted paints yet, coz I'm too lazy. LOL. Will probably wait for warmer weather now so he can do it outside. He loves drawing tho, so that'll have to do for now.

I guess I introduce some things to him so he's not getting bored with the same old things, and then he just does them when he wants. We set up a trainset a few weeks ago, but that got boring after a while, so I packed it up. But he was faxscinated watching it go around, and putting the track together etc and I just left him to it.

I'm not one to enforce certain activities for his development, I just show him different things and he goes for it as he feels like it. :)

I agree with Niliac. I let the kids go. I join in, but let them lead what they want to do.

I have structured "play", but thats story time, cooking and water type play. I only step in when they need it!!:lol:

I believe we make happy, confident, competent children, if they have the freedom to play and learn how they wish to. Being told how, when and where to play is too restrictive.

They wont miss the paint, they'll get years of it when they are older and can handle it better. Give them a water bucket and brushes and let them paint everything outside!!:lol:

I believe our little people should roam free at home. There are too many restrictions in life, let them go while they can!!!:D

*jumping off soapbox!*