How do we encourage 4 year old to engage with independent play?
My son is 4 and loves playing a variety of different games; roleplaying, board games, card games, trains etc. A lot of the time, however, he has to have someone playing with him. Of course, this is fine, we had a child and we spend time with him. There are just time where we need to chill during the day or actually get housework or cooking done etc, and he just cannot seem to engage with the independent play that we set up or suggest.
There are times where he will play alone for a little bit, but they are few and far between. When we play with him but then need to do something, suggest how he can play on his own, he loses all interest. The only thing that works to get him to let us sort out adult things or relax is TV time or when he is sitting down to eat. It is so frustrating sometimes as we don't want to rely on TV. From my perspective, I don't understand it as I engaged in a lot of independent play when I was a child myself. I did have siblings to play with as well, but I remember playing alone too or just sitting down and reading. I don't remember constantly asking my parents to play. I find it difficult personally as I am not very good at the type of roleplaying he enjoys, thankfully my husband is. I am much better with the board games and card games.
Anyway, any suggestions to encourage independent play would be helpful.