https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:12:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-toddler-to-play-independently#post-2109078 Sun, 15 Mar 2015 06:18:58 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2109078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Some days, DD will happily play by herself. Most days, she will insist on us sitting beside her(!) while she plays. In fact, she tries to dictate where we sit and I am truly hoping that this is a phase that will pass soon! We do not know how to deal with this :meh:</p> <p>Eta: She'll be 3 in 3 months </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-toddler-to-play-independently#post-2109074 Sun, 15 Mar 2015 04:55:28 +0000 looch 2109074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought my son would never want to be in a different room, but I have to say at around 3 years of age, it kind of clicked for him and now he'll play in his room while I am down the hall, or he'll go into the playroom without someone there.</p> <p>We also set up an art station at our kitchen table, he'll sit there for an hour and play with kinetic sand and play dough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-toddler-to-play-independently#post-2108966 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 22:04:27 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2108966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>olive has always been strangely independent, but finding things she really loves has a big impact on the length of independent play. right now she is into legos (there are so many different sets for every interest), and her big hardcover books fancy nancy and pinkalicious. Introducing her to those three things has had an enormous impact on her independent play! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-toddler-to-play-independently#post-2108904 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:44:35 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2108904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsF: @Mrs. Confetti: for us, the imaginative play got more complex around three, which I think helped with lengthening out her independent play. Her favorite thing was playdoh, and she would pretend play with things she made out of playdoh and stuff like that. She could also sit for longer periods in front of the tv. Even at 2 or 2.5 she was never that interested in TV/media! I thought we were the odd ones out with a kid that didn't like TV! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-toddler-to-play-independently#post-2108887 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:10:33 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 2108887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: he is 2 months away from his 3rd birthday and showing no signs of even reaching the 5 minutes solo mark. Reassuring to hear that maybe it gets better with age </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-toddler-to-play-independently#post-2108885 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:08:58 +0000 MrsF 2108885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: This is very encouraging! Just like @Mrs. Confetti: - M (2.5) will hardly play independently for a minute, and it hasn't gotten any better since baby brother arrived. I'm glad to hear it might get better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-toddler-to-play-independently#post-2108880 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 20:04:32 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2108880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Confetti: How old is Colin again? N was never good at independent play, but I saw a huge improvement once she hit 3! At 2, she could only play for 5 minutes at a time, but by 3 she could play all by herself without needing anything from us for about 30-40 minutes. For us, it wasn't anything we did or felt we could do (we def tried!)... It just took time and a ton of patience. I know that's no help. :bummed: I hope things improve for you soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-encourage-toddler-to-play-independently#post-2108873 Sat, 14 Mar 2015 19:43:50 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 2108873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Seeing toddler moms post in SorryCharlie's thread about their kids and independent play fills me with envy, not gonna lie. My son has never been wonderful about independent play but now that his little bro arrived, it is worse. He is Craving attention and refuses to do almost anything by himself. I know it is a phase but generally he sucked at independent play before too. </p> <p>Anyone dealt with this (either as a reaction to a new baby or just in general), and have any advice on how to teach/encourage a toddler to play independently? We are not above bribery and even that rarely works... :silly:</p> <p>ETA: He is two months shy of 3 years old </p>