Family Life

Look mummy I did it on my own

5th Dec2011

I am trying to encourage my 18-month-old to play on her own.

Playing on your own is good. “Great work” I tell her.

Play encourages children to develop new competencies, develop resilience, sharing, social interaction, and helps them discover their own levels of interest. The list can go on on.

With a little wee-one on the way, I am beginning to incorporate independent play into the daily routine.

We are a family that likes to go out, have fun, go to the park.

But this weekend we relaxed. We stayed home. We played at home.

(Mind you the weather here was utterly freezing so it was a good excuse to stay inside)

Curiosity, imagination develops in free-time.

Free-time to do their thing.

But what do you do when your child just wants to hang around you, be at your feet and not want to be alone? (As I write this my Little E is getting up to mischief around me too…)

1. Make independent play a part of the daily routine

2. Stop stressing about what the munchkins can be doing…. ok, so if there is a crayon mark on the wall… so be it…

3. Reduce the number of extra curricular activities and have more relaxed free-time at home

4. Children learn through repetition and modelling. Show them what to do, how to play with something, step back and encourage their achievements.

So this was my fabulous Sunday afternoon.

An afternoon of free-time play.

Mum slept, dad read the paper and the child played… well attempted to anyway.

Babysteps.

Small steps.

Know that these things take time.

Patience and encouragement.

 

How do you encourage your children to play independently?

 

 

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Life Love and Hiccups

 

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  • http://ironmumkarla.blogspot.com Karla

    we plant seeds…it may not come to fruition straight away (miss indepence) but it does sink in when its own their terms. Definately easier the second time around having the sibling demostrate everything;)

  • http://jar67.blogspot.com Jen R

    Sounds wonderful, have always encouraged independant play or ‘quiet time’ especially on a Sunday arvo, they read or play and I read or have a nanna nap…lol

  • http://lifeloveandhiccups.blogspot.com/ Sonia @ Life Love and Hiccups

    I love weekends like that. They are just so relaxing.
    I am so excited for you with another one on the way :)
    Our kids tend to play with each other so much, that every now and then, they like to remove themselves and just play on their own. We have kitted their rooms out with desks and art supplies and they can go in there and create to their hearts content.
    xxx

    • Tahlia

      I can’t wait till the next little one comes and then they can entertain themselves … hopefully anyway in time! Thats the plan! Room organisation is also something we have to do over the holiday break!

  • Anna

    Well, I do tell them to get off me already and go and play with each other :D :D :D. Ok, not really, only when they had been hanging all over me for hours and made me irritated. Otherwise I am trying to give them hints all the time, like: “If i were you, I would try to decorate this…” or “I have a good idea about how to make this nice looking…” Blablabla. Most of the time it does not work though :(.

    • Tahlia

      Hints are good! SOmetimes I wish they would get the hints a little more!

  • http://lovewendysworld.blogspot.com/ Wendy

    Oh I love spending special times with my little ones playing on the floor or a tea party with the girls. I’m new to your blog linking up through Sonia life love and hiccups, really enjoying your blog and reading your past posts I am now following you, if you ever find a spare minute come visit sometime nice meeting new friends on blogger to catch up with. Have a great day.

    Always Wendy

    • Tahlia

      Thanks Wendy. Ill be sure to pop on over to your blog.

  • http://www.dent1st.co.uk/ Cindy

    with my son, the best way to make him play independently was the game Lego. He is already 10years old, but he started to play Lego when he was 5. I think it is one of the best creative games for children. (Im not paid by the company:))He always creates something new, at first he makes it from the plans, but for the second time he builds something else.

    • Tahlia

      Lego is amazing! Little E is not quite into Lego but Megablocks and building she loves! Full of imagination and creativity and endless fun!