https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:43:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2637625 Mon, 17 Oct 2016 05:58:22 +0000 honeybear 2637625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was not keen to play independently and quietly on cue at age 3, so although I had been a devotee of exercise DVDs prior to him, I basically gave them up once he became mobile. I found other ways to exercise that included him--we went on walks (not with a stroller--I carried him for a bit if he got tired, which is really good upper body/back/core exercise, plus the walks tired him out), went swimming, went to the playground, etc. And all was well. If I'd left him alone in a room against his will, he would have screamed for the entire time. </p> <p>BUT I come with a message of hope! :) He's 6 now and although he was quite clingy as a toddler/early preschooler, he's not anymore. I have plenty of free time during the day, not because he's in school, but because he has his own things to do and wants to do them. The situation has been changing steadily since he was about 4, although it was in shorter increments back then. Anyhow, give it time and gently suggest a book or something else low-key when you feel like the stars are aligned and eventually your LO will get there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2637612 Mon, 17 Oct 2016 00:33:51 +0000 birdofafeather 2637612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 3.5 yo will try to do it with me (and fail) and my 11 month old would need to be asleep because she crawls on my head and pulls my hair. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2637595 Sun, 16 Oct 2016 20:44:37 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2637595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sometimes I get left completely alone which is what I prefer. (That's why I'm working out at home and not at a gym!) but most of the time she tries to join and comes in to check what I'm doing. There are some days where she has to go potty 10 times, needs juice, water and 80 different snacks and it's maddening but for the most part it isn't too bad. My 18 month old, on the other hand, is nearly impossible to complete those things with. I do it while she is asleep or not at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2637565 Sun, 16 Oct 2016 19:40:44 +0000 erinbaderin 2637565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>B would if we put the tv on for him, assuming his mood was right. He might want to join in, though - my husband tries to do a 7 minute workout occasionally and B always wants to do it with him. Watching him do jumping jacks and crunches is adorable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2637505 Sun, 16 Oct 2016 15:07:44 +0000 looch 2637505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: that's interesting, it never occurred to me to do that, I have to be honest though...I made my life a lot more difficult than needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2637504 Sun, 16 Oct 2016 15:02:42 +0000 MoonMoon 2637504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted no, but I bet if I set him up with an iPad he'd let me exercise for 20 minutes! But I feel like that doesn't count as independent play, right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2637477 Sun, 16 Oct 2016 12:59:36 +0000 gingerbebe 2637477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We put the 2 year old in his babyproofed and baby gated room for 45 minutes at a time for independent play regularly so we can get things done around the house and foster the ability to entertain himself. We can watch him on the monitor and I'm always within earshot. So theoretically I could do a DVD. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2637440 Sun, 16 Oct 2016 09:31:25 +0000 autumnlove 2637440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The 4&amp;3 year old will copy me or play nearby. My 1 year old needs to be asleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2637372 Sat, 15 Oct 2016 21:12:52 +0000 daniellemybelle 2637372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have done 20 minute workout videos with LO and she tries to do them along with me. It's a little frustrating at times because she is all up in my grill but with some patience I can complete it. (I have, like, twice. Ha.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2637333 Sat, 15 Oct 2016 19:04:02 +0000 Corduroy 2637333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO pretty much turns into a zombie when the TV is on. I could do pretty much whatever I want for 6-8 hours. But...</p> <p>LO doesn't do well when we shut the TV off so we only use it rarely and only at the end of the day because the fit is a day ruiner. That would conflict with making dinner. </p> <p>The only other place I could work out is the garage. I can't monitor from the garage so I can't picture trusting her for 30 minutes even in couch potato state. </p> <p>And my 16 month old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2637191 Sat, 15 Oct 2016 01:25:45 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2637191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I did the 21 day fix this summer, I did a video every single day with all 3 girls home with me. I strapped the baby in the high chair with some puffs (or put her down for a nap), and my (then) newly-turned 4 year old and my (then) 2.5 year old sat on the couch and watched me and cheered me on. For 30 minutes. Every day. :)</p> <p>Now that they are older (4.5, almost 3, 13 months) I know it would be a bit different. The baby would *have* to be down for a nap (she is into everything!) and the older two would likely not sit and watch me, they'd probably be in another room doing their own thing. They keep each other very occupied.</p> <p>My almost 3 year old would be content to play alone all day and never speak to a single person. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2637185 Sat, 15 Oct 2016 00:00:16 +0000 LilSprinkles 2637185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS could independtly play all day if I let him. So yes, I could get a excersise video in if I wanted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2636944 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 13:20:35 +0000 catlady 2636944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD will do things for 20 min independently, but I don't think she'd specifically let me do a 20 min DVD workout unless I let her play with my phone for the entire time. Otherwise, she'd try to join in and probably make it 5-10 min before getting annoyed and asking me to change it to Daniel Tiger or something. I actually just try to get my workouts in early in the morning before she wakes up specifically so I don't have to deal with this situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2636943 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 13:19:06 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2636943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She'd probably be up my butt if I did it in front of her, but she'll play in the playroom by herself for a couple hours so if I send her downstairs I can do whatever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2636938 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 13:15:32 +0000 Foodnerd81 2636938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She will play for 20 minutes by herself but not necessarily when I want her to or if I'm doing something. If I'm being super boring she is more likely to. </p> <p>But lately everything with her makes me want to carve off my face. It's been a long week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2636935 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 13:06:28 +0000 KayKay 2636935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my DD1 was 3, I probably could've told her to go play quietly in her room or the playroom while I did some exercise. She did 1.5h of "quiet time" in her room everyday for almost a year before we fully transitioned from napping to nothing, so I could've likely used that time.</p> <p>She also would've gladly watched a 30m show on the ipad or my phone :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2636923 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 12:50:26 +0000 MOMTOLITTLEB 2636923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have been able to get it done but it's not ideal. If I get down on the ground, like for push ups, he tries to climb on my back and ride me like a horse. But there have been times he'll do the moves along with me a little bit. It's distracting but it's better than not trying to work out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2636918 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 12:38:00 +0000 Truth Bombs 2636918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never tried this specifically but my 3 year old definitely plays independently for 20 minutes. If anything, she would just want to copy what I was doing and I would ask her to do it next to me (not in my way of the tv, etc) and she would. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/poll-does-your-3-yr-old-let-you#post-2636915 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 12:28:28 +0000 MrsLilybugg 2636915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does your 3 year old let you do a 20<br /> Minute exercise DVD While he/she Independently plays, or are you left wanting to carve off your own face 1 hour and 50 pauses later? </p>