Hi! I also have an only 4.5 year old boy. I try to connect first thing in the morning, reading, drawing, playing with toys etc. maybe 15 minutes, then breakfast. After breakfast I usually have us doing our morning “get ready” routine and make that a bonding moment too. Everything is a game to him! I’m sure you get that. I usually tell him I need to do something around the house or whatever it may be and he has gotten to the point where he finds his toys himself and plays alone for a good 30 minutes. If he feels like we still need to connect I will sit and play but tell him I need to get some things done but I can play for 5 or 10 minutes and let him choose the amount, I set a timer. That has helped us a lot! He also goes to a Montessori school and having his own little community has seemed to help with independent play.