Hellobee Boards Topic: Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:05:37 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1036063 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 10:37:56 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 1036063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO is 2 and I will let him play independently to the extent that he'll let me, especially on equipment he's familiar with. He's also very cautious. But I always have an eye on him. Freckles on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035989 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 10:17:10 +0000 Freckles 1035989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ LO is 16.5 months old and i stay close by when we're at the playground. She likes climbing up on the structures that are not enclosed and would risk falling 6 ft if i let her run amok. I let her go down the slide by herself but i'll probably feel more comfortable having her roam free when she's over 2 years old. Sugar.Biscuit on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035966 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 10:08:20 +0000 Sugar.Biscuit 1035966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Read this article the other day & thought it was really interesting. They touched on independent play. <a href="http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3202328" rel="nofollow">http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/3202328</a> PinkElephant on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035913 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 09:48:46 +0000 PinkElephant 1035913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Depends who else is there - I let her roam when it's empty, but stay closer when there are bigger kids who want to spin the merry go round quickly or are moving a lot faster than her. Since she started walking there's been a lot of interest in her from older kids wanting to play, and I'm not at all trusting that your average 3 or 4 year old understands what it means to play nicely and carefully with a 14 month old....particularly if their parents aren't close by. I'll back off a bit more when she's not the littlest one on the playground. HLK208 on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035841 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 09:18:42 +0000 HLK208 1035841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I follow DD but I keep a little distance at times. She's almost 15 months and gets hurt easily. I played and followed DS until he was about 4, I still play with him but he wants to play with kids his age more. I only judge parents and caregivers who play on their phone or talk to friends instead of watch their children. regberadaisy on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035832 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 09:13:27 +0000 regberadaisy 1035832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrsjazz: that's exactly it!!! If you're sitting at the bench are you literally keeping your eye on them every single second? I think you can let them play independently at a distance. ;) mrsjazz on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035826 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 09:10:42 +0000 mrsjazz 1035826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ To me it would depend on the park and LO. The 2 parks we go to have gates, but very often older kids and sometimes parents leave it open. When my LO is in the toddler/baby area I follow her around but at a distance. She's 16 months and thinks she can stand at the top of the slide and jump off. We dealt with a 6-year-old bully whose caregiver let her roam around for 20 minutes terrorizing toddlers and babies. I'm fine with parents/caregivers letting their kids play independently if they are actually watching them, especially when they are toddlers. There have been quite a few incidents where something has happened and I have looked for a child's parent or caregiver and no one seems to be around. regberadaisy on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035755 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 08:46:00 +0000 regberadaisy 1035755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Our park is not fenced in or guarded and all the equipment are for big kids so I follow her around. And she's only 16 months. looch on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035743 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 08:44:16 +0000 looch 1035743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I let my son take the lead, if he wants me to play with him, I go. If he finds a friend, I let them go off together. brownie on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035724 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 08:40:03 +0000 brownie 1035724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We let my 2 year old roam. We hovered long enough to know he can handle all of the equipment. He did fall off the other day but it happens. Andrea on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035598 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 07:54:53 +0000 Andrea 1035598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I never knew this was something to be judged on? I actually often see nannies ignoring the kids and talking on their phones. Now that bothers me, not hovering caregivers or caregivers who let kids play independently if they are being watched. heffalump on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035482 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 06:59:34 +0000 heffalump 1035482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I feel like the majority of kids play alone at the park. I actually feel judged for hovering.... but she's only 2. T.H.O.U. on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035472 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 06:47:29 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1035472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Our park is open which scares me a bit more and there aren't benches really close to the playground area. If she is on the little kid equipment which I know she can safely do then I just stand to the side and let her play. If she goes onto the big equipment I still follow her. I think by age 4-5 they are pretty good to run free. Rubies on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035471 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 06:47:28 +0000 Rubies 1035471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DD is 2 years old and when we go to the playground, she gravitates to the kiddie slide. She knows how to climb the stairs and to slide down on her own so DH and I will sit on the bench, and verbally encourage her to do it herself. DD likes to just walk on her own, pick up some rocks, chat to herself, and so we let her. Sometimes she wants us to actively be and play with her so we do. I don't hover just because neither one of us likes it. mediagirl on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035465 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 06:44:20 +0000 mediagirl 1035465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I have a 14 month old. When we go to the park, I let her run all over the place and try my best to get away from her and sit on a bench where I can see her, but let her play solo. I say try because she's a bit clingy right now. I think any age is an okay age to let them play alone, as long as it's safe. I will help her if she tries to get on the slide or tries to climb something she is too little to figure out how to get down from. I think it's just a difference in parenting/nannying preferences. I prefer to let them have their wings and figure things out as long as they're being safe. Some parents like to be there to make sure they're not getting hurt. I'm trying to see the benefits of both sides. :) I'm sorry if you feel judged for the way you're letting the baby play. :( How old is your charge? lamariniere on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035461 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 06:43:13 +0000 lamariniere 1035461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think once a child is big enough or skilled enough to climb on the playground equipment without risk of falling or hurting themselves, you can let them run free. When I was younger, I was a nanny to a 4 year old girl and I just sat on the bench while she ran around playing either by herself or with friends. Now that I'm a mom and DS is 2.5, I stay close by and hover when he is on the bigger toys that he could fall off of. If it is a little kid park, I let him run around freely and I sit on a bench. Edit: All of the playgrounds in our city are enclosed, so there is no risk of him running off. travelingnanny on "Can we have a discussion about independent play at a park? Where is the line?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/can-we-have-a-discussion-about-indepentent-play-at-a-park-where-is-the-line#post-1035457 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 06:40:01 +0000 travelingnanny 1035457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yesterday the baby and I were at a play area that was completely enclosed, and there was a guard watching the gate. I sat down and let nanny LO run around with her friends because she needs to learn to play with other kids/ be independent. I could always see her and she was perfectly safe. I couldn't help but feel judged because I wasn't hovering over her like some of the other parents. I know that some child care workers (and some parents) get a bad rep for letting a child play alone at the park/ play area. Why is this? Granted, it depends on the age but at what age is it ok? I'm not talking about people who blatantly ignore children, either.