https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 09:07:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2127107 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 15:40:27 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2127107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 4 and I've never timed it, but somewhere in the 2 hour range. DS is 2 and he's always been pretty good about playing independently, maybe because he's always had a built in playmate. I'd say he can do up to an hour before getting restless. When DD was his age, she was only able to do 5 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2127069 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 15:07:58 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2127069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Munchkin: We do it every morning after breakfast. I change his diaper and we get dressed, and then he picks a toy from his closet and I get him started playing. Then I tell him that I am going to go get dressed and ready for the day, that I love him and I will see him in a few minutes. I walk out and shut the door. Occasionally he will fuss a bit...I count to 30 and if he is still fussing I scrap it for the day (or wait until later) but he really only does that if he is sick or overtired and just wants to stay close. We started with much smaller increments of time and built up to the hour. I wrote a post on how I started Independent Playtime with him when he was a baby, but if I was just starting at 2 I would probably start with just a few minutes at a time and build up. Lots of praise for playing well alone, making sure he gets started with something he loves to play with, and reassuring him that you will be right back all help. Also, when they are still learning, try to come back before they get upset...that way they learn that you will come back before they really even need you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2127057 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 15:00:40 +0000 Munchkin 2127057@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLion and all - MY LO is 2 and doesn't play independently often. How can I encourage/introduce this? It seems your Little Lion expects independent time as a part of your family routine - I think we should move in that direction! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2126922 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 13:19:20 +0000 petunia354 2126922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 27 months and he's really good at independent play. He can play for maybe an hour on his own? He might bounce from playing with cars to looking at books or playing with something else but generally doesn't require any help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2126895 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 12:54:36 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2126895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>it definitely gets better as they get older. charlie can play by himself for 2 hours at 5, usually drawing. but that has been since he was 4 and better able to draw. before that he couldn't play very long by himself.</p> <p>olive has always been great at independent play and can easily play an hour+ by herself at 3 1/2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2126890 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 12:52:09 +0000 .twist. 2126890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 20 months, he can play for probably 20 mins at one activity. Like others, he's got to be pretty into it though, cars or dinosaurs usually. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2126845 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 12:19:48 +0000 BananaPancakes 2126845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He's almost 3 and will play for about an hour without any interaction from me. But only if he's found something that really peaks his interest; usually tools and trucks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2126836 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 12:08:17 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2126836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lo just turned 2 and can play in his room alone for about an hour. I close the door for his independent playtime and watch him on the monitor. If he comes to the door and wants to come out I open it for him and we end playtime, but closing the door really helps him stay engaged. Its pretty rare for him to want to come out of his room sooner. It took a lot of work to get there but it's so fun to see him play on his own. He plays totally different than he does when I'm in the room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2126834 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 12:05:55 +0000 PurplePeony 2126834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is almost 16 months and she doesn't "play" so much as run around the house in destruction mode. Scatters things around, chases the cat, tries to get into the toilet and the litter box, tried to climb on chairs, etc. As long as she's not doing anything gross or dangerous, she'll occupy herself this way for as long as we let her...but even so, one of us has to follow her closely enough to know what she's up to because there's no telling what kind if trouble she will make if left alone. On the rare, rare occasion she actually sits down and plays with toys, she entertains herself for maybe 5-10 minutes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2126822 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 11:55:29 +0000 mrsjyw 2126822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 28 months and can color up to an hour. He loves magnatiles and can do that up to an hour too. He reads and plays by himself really well. To the point, where I feel guilty sometimes for not being engaging enough! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2126820 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 11:54:33 +0000 NurseDMB 2126820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 20 months and won't play by himself everrrrr. It's exhausting. Sometimes he will for maybe 1 min but only if I'm in the same room as him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2108964 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 22:03:00 +0000 Mrs. Toad 2108964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>20-30 minutes. However, he is 5 months and can't come to me yet. He has always loved tummy time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2108949 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 21:34:08 +0000 meganmp 2108949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Up to an hour and a half, but they have each other. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2108918 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:55:25 +0000 Mamasig 2108918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 is 2.5 and can entertain himself for a good long while with his car toys and the TV. I've never timed it but I would say at least an hour. He'll watch a little bit, play, come check on me and say hi, go play again, etc. </p> <p>DS2 is 10 months and can last maybe 15 minutes on a good day. But mostly not at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2108912 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:51:13 +0000 Mae 2108912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My lo is 10 mo. I don't leave her one bc she's self destructive but she can play without needing me for around 20 min if she's in a good mood. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2108906 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:46:33 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2108906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 26 months and is good for a ridiculously long time. She could color for two hours by herself and not need me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-long-does-your-lo-play-completely-independently#post-2108876 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 19:49:52 +0000 DillonLion 2108876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is nearly 2.5. She can play completely independently for maybe 5 minutes at a time before getting distracted and going to something new or wanting to see what I'm up to if I'm in another room.</p> <p>The only thing that keeps her still longer than that is a tv show. </p> <p>She is usually okay to entertain herself for extended periods of time (30 minutes+) but she goes from activity to activity.</p> <p>How old is your LO and how long can they actively focus on one activity? </p>