Independent play offers big benefits to children. But how do you encourage children to play independently?
USE TOYS THAT CHILDREN CAN EXPLORE IN DIFFERENT WAYS!!Think of plastic food-storage containers, blocks and figurines, or a pile of cardboard boxes of different sizes. More ideas: art materials, playing-house props, dolls/stuffed animals, balls and baskets, toy vehicles, etc.
MAKE SURE THE TOYS ARE RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD'S AGE AND STAGE If the toy is too overwhelming, your child would need help and not want to play. Focus on the quality of the toy verses the quantity. Pick toys that are not too challenging.
CREATE A CLEAN SPACE FOR PLAY! Make sure there is a safe area for your child to play. Turn off the TV and other distractions to allow you child to focus on the toys! Make it fun and don't impose too many rules.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT ATTENTION SPANS! By age two, a toddler’s attention span is about 5 to 6 minutes. Three-year-olds can pay attention for up to 8 minutes and four-year-olds up to about 10 minutes. If your preschooler is new to independent play, begin with 5 minutes and extend as they get used to it.
PLAY WITH YOUR CHILD FIRST BEFORE MOVING TO INDEPENDENCE! Begin with 15-20 minutes of playtime with your child. Silence your phone and really let your child enjoy your full attention. Then…
STAY POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD “Okay, now it’s your playtime. Have fun! You can tell me all about it when you’re done. I’ll be sitting at my desk/folding laundry/reading my book while you play.” If your child is most comfortable with a lot of structure, you can tell them, “I’ve set the timer for your 10-minute play time.” Other children prefer to play without knowing the alarm will go off. The most important guidance here is staying positive. Playtime should just be part of the daily routine, a chance for fun. Avoid framing it as a chore, as in: “I really need to work now and you have to go play by yourself.”
STAY CLOSE BY.. Move on to your own activity. Children learn and play best when they feel safe and secure, and that’s what your presence offers. When children can glance up and check in, it allows them to focus their energy on play.
OBSERVE AND AVOID COMMENTING “Wow, that’s a long line of blocks. You did a great job of stacking!” Comments like these are well-intentioned, but shift a child’s focus away from what they’re doing. Imagine being in the middle of an activity you really love: Do you enjoy interruptions? Let your child be fully engaged and get into the flow of their activities.
KEEP PLAYTIME FRESH Over time, swap out toys, so that when they return, they feel “new.” You might also create a special basket of high-interest toys or materials that only come out during independent play. Or try leaving interesting items out for your child to “discover” during play. You might line up some interesting shells on the floor. Or fill an empty egg carton or onion bag (those red mesh things) with toilet paper tubes or pinecones and place it in your child’s play space. The idea is that these curious items are an invitation to explore and spark a child’s interest.
DON'T RUSH WITH IDEAS IF THE CHILD GETS BORED! Boredom is the bridge to creativity, imagination, and new ways to play. It’s tempting (for all of us!) to turn to screens for entertainment at the first sign of boredom. But learning to push through boredom is a critical life skill that builds resilience, persistence, and creativity. Let your child know you trust them: “I wonder what you’ll come up with to play next. I know you’ll discover something fun.” (If whining happens, ignore it. If you’d like, offer a choice: “Would you like stickers to play with next, or do you want to try snipping paper?”)
MAKE INDEPENDENT PLAY PART OF THE ROUTINE! While this will feel new for children when you begin, eventually (like all routines), it will become familiar — part of the rhythm of their lives.
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