3.5 year old... playing independently??

so my son is just about 3.5 years old. we adopted him from Korea when he was almost 2 years old. He's our only child, and I'm a speech therapist who is a SAHM for now. between me trying to catch him up on language, and us just trying to build a bond with him... hes gotten A LOT of one-on-one attention since hes been here (games, puzzles, activities)
its a good thing because now hes all caught up, SO SO smart, and really bonded/attached to us.
BUT... its getting exhausting!!!! now he doesn't really NEED the one-on-one attention, but he expects it because that's how its always been. so its always "mommy- do you want to play cars with me?" "mommy can we play...." "daddy, can we do..." he very rarely will just play by himself- and his room is right off our living room, so its not like we're on a different floor!!
Any ideas how to encourage independent play? or is it just his age? he goes to nursery school 2 mornings a week, and we've been having a few problems there because some of the time is free play, and he just gets bored, and starts hurting the other kids :-/

3.5 year old... playing independently??

My son is 3.5 and will play independently. I would encourage him to play in the LR by himself, not his room even though it's right there. My son likes to be with us in the same room. Your DS probably just wants to be with you.

I would suggest saying to him when he asks you to play "Mommy can't right now because I have to XYZ, but if you play here we can chat while I do XYZ." This helps me out a lot when I need to get something done and DS asks to play with me. Sometimes I put the TV on and he'll watch a movie while he plays. He stops to watch for a few minutes, and then keeps playing with his trucks, and he goes back and forth.

Re: 3.5 year old... playing independently??

You aren't alone, I wish I had advice but only empathy. My DD is 3.5 years old and has ZERO ability to play by herself "Mommy can you play with me?" over and over and over. I work p/t and the two days I'm in the office our nanny showers her with attention so she expects it from me too. My son who just turned 1, however, goes off on his own forEVER and plays by himself. I think it's a personality thing? Looking forward to any ideas you get on this thread!

Re: 3.5 year old... playing independently??

My 3.5 year old DD also is constantly asking us to play with her. Non stop.
Mommy can you play with me?
Daddy can you color with me?
Mommy can you do a puzzle with me?

I know she CAN play alone- I have seen her do it- but she just prefers to play with us all the time.

I really think it's the age.

3.5 year old... playing independently??

I've set something up for her to play with, play with her for a few, then say continues playing I'll be right back. I do what I have to do, and talk to her saying I'll be right back etc. Get longer and longer away. She's almost 4 and plays by herself a lot.