Children develop skills through playing, education, and situational interaction. Independent playtime is an integral part of learning how to entertain one’s self, why it’s important, and how not to feel lonely if there’s nobody to be around. However, there’s plenty of debate surrounding whether or not it’s necessary.
Independent playtime is a time you set aside for your child to play by themselves. It’s an important part of parenting because it lets your child figure out how to keep themselves entertained, what to do when they don’t have external help or fun, and how to prevent loneliness.
In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about independent playtime, why most children need it, and how you can teach your children to play alone. We’ll also cover a few reasons your child might be having trouble with independent playtime and what you can do about it.
What Is Independent Play in Child Development?
Independent play in child development is a portion of each day when a child is supposed to play with their toys by themselves. Providing an array of activities will help them stay entertained and educated. However, every toy doesn’t have to be educational. The act of being alone and playing is an excellent way to help them learn how to be independent as they grow older.
According to Baby Wise Mom, it’s more about the focus and problem-solving skills than the time it takes to play alone. Your child is developing new thoughts and ways to handle certain situations without external assistance.
This process is crucial for children, especially those who grow up with siblings. They’re going to have plenty of time to play with their sisters, brothers, and friends. If your children don’t spend enough time by themselves, they won’t know what to do when they’re alone.
Lack of proper independent playtime at a young age can turn into anxiety and loneliness when they’re adults. It’s an irreplaceable part of growing up. Let’s dive more into the details below.
Do Children Need Independent Playtime?
Children need independent playtime because it teaches them necessary life skills, such as self-entertainment, how to not be lonely, and how to get out of situations they don’t want to be in. Independent playtime also lets you focus on other tasks without having to be around your child at all hours of the day.
Review these reasons children need independent playtime:
- Playing alone boosts their creativity. Pathways claim independent playing leads to high-quality creativity because the child is forced to use their imagination. It can open avenues for musicians, writers, and other young artists who haven’t tried anything by themselves.
- Self-entertainment helps them discover their likes and dislikes. Most kids enjoy playing with other kids and adults, but it’s very different when they’re by themselves. Instead of playing with whatever the other person is doing, they will choose what they want and ignore what they don’t want.
- Independent playtime helps them be much more confident in situations when they don’t have anyone they know with them. Social anxiety and boredom often start at a young age. When a child never plays by themself, they don’t know what to do when nobody else is around.
As you can see, there are many reasons to encourage a child to try independent playtime. Whether you want them to learn how to handle a situation without other people or you want them to feel more creative and comfortable, it’s a great addition to their daily activities.
Why Will My Child Not Play Alone?
Your child won’t play alone because they’re worried about not having people around them, they’ve never played without friends, or they don’t have enough toys to keep them entertained. Most children will experience a learning curve while figuring out how to enjoy independent playtime, so it’s an expected part of the process.
Here’s a list of reasons your child is struggling with independent playtime:
- It’ll always take a few sessions to get a child to play without other people. They’re not used to doing anything without their parents, siblings, or friends. Don’t be too discouraged if your child doesn’t take to independent playtime on the first attempt.
- Some children are worried when nobody is with them. If you notice your child doesn’t enjoy playing alone, consider staying in the room with them while working on another task. You could read a book while they play with their toys to let them know what it’s like.
- There might not be anything entertaining for them to play with. You should have more than enough activities and toys ready for them to enjoy, so they’re always distracted. At the end of their play session, they’ll want to jump right back into it!
- They might not have had enough playtime with you! Be sure to incorporate at least 15 minutes a day of uninterrupted playtime with a parent so they can learn to value your time together before their independent playtime. Check out this post on different ways parents can play with their kids!
How Do I Teach My Child to Play Independently?
To teach your child to play independently, follow this process:
- Melbourne Child Psychology recommends starting with short increments between 10 to 30 minutes. Rather than diving into a 45-minute play session, your child should play alone for only a handful of minutes. You could set a timer in their room or play area, so they know how much time is left without having to ask you.
- Create a list of activities that they love to do. Make some notes with them to determine what they can do without your input (or anyone else getting involved). These activities can range from playing with toys to enjoying light sports. Everything on the list should be fun and engaging without other people getting involved.
- Let them know that you’re within reach. Many children start to worry if they’re completely alone. Remain in a nearby room, but set a firm boundary that they’re not supposed to talk to you unless something goes wrong.
Conclusion
Now that you know everything about independent playtime, you can integrate it into your child’s daily or weekly routine. Remember, implementing this tip should be done in moderation. You don’t want your child to be afraid or bored when they’re alone. Once they can play alone for 5 to 10 minutes, slowly increase the intervals to 15 to 30 minutes per day.