https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 15 Jul 2026 18:51:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782686 Fri, 27 Oct 2017 22:19:19 +0000 lady baltimore 2782686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is an only, but at 22 months, she will happily read and babble/sing to her animals in her crib for at least the length of leisurely shower (and has done this for a while). Is the crib a containment option for your youngest? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782504 Fri, 27 Oct 2017 09:23:52 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2782504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We send our kids outside to the yard whenever it's nice enough and they are way more likely to play independently out there!</p> <p>Fwiw at 20 months my dd just did not care about other kids at all. In fact she wasn't that social all through preschool. She started elementary school this year and is definitely social now though! I think although my dd was a little more extreme than most kids that's pretty normal at 20 months. My son will play by other kids and enjoys watching them and being near, but only occasionally with them and he's only a few months older. Just thought I'd chime in bc we were worried too. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782492 Fri, 27 Oct 2017 09:09:16 +0000 maddyz 2782492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 is 2.5 and will often play by himself, I actually rarely play with him, I help him with something (building train track, making a puzzle) if he needs it and we read SO MANY books together. But I expect him to be able to play by himself and he is pretty good at it. This sounds like I ignore my child, which I don't, I just dont play games with him and he has a great imagination on his own.</p> <p>DS2 is 13 months and will putter around by my feet while I cook or play just outside the kitchen. This works best when DS1 is doing his own thing in his room.</p> <p>When they are together I have to monitor... there is so much fighting over stuff and then fighting for my attention.</p> <p>I think another thing that helps this is that our apartment is really small, so even when DS1 is in his room he still feels close to me in the kitchen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782475 Fri, 27 Oct 2017 08:23:31 +0000 Mrs D 2782475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: I just ordered another Alexa so we can set the timer upstairs! Love the idea of "special" toys for play time. I think for the 4 year old this will definitely help! And the celebrating at the end...good stuff. I can also incorporate a "treat" after lunch if they moderately behave themselves.</p> <p>@Foodnerd81: Ya, I'm definitely thinking the enforcement of this before nap time is given up by my 4 year old may help us transition to quiet time during nap time for the LO when she fully gives it up!</p> <p>@wrkbrk: Yay! There is hope!!!</p> <p>@looch: We are moving the kids play table from the family room to the kitchen this weekend. If my attempts to do this in their room does not work I'll move to trying it in the kitchen. :)</p> <p>I just generally find that when I am out of sight I am out of mind...but when I am there - and they can see me...they need me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782473 Fri, 27 Oct 2017 08:08:38 +0000 looch 2782473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my son was younger, he would play independently as long as he could see me. So, I set up stations where he could do his thing while I cooked. It worked really well, and it evolved into him wanting to help.</p> <p>Now, I have an area in the kitchen with art supplies and whatnot, he's free to use them whenever he wants, but I noticed that he still desires to use them when I am in the kitchen, which is fine. On occasion he'll play alone in his room or the playroom and sometimes, he'll ask to be left alone. </p> <p>It's been a process, when he was small I thought he'd never get to this point and it happened quite naturally without too much enforcement on my part. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782399 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 18:55:20 +0000 wrkbrk 2782399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: My son does it (23 months) But always in the same room as us. We can get 20 or so minutes of independent quiet play twice a day or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782397 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 18:34:05 +0000 Foodnerd81 2782397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my older one (now 4) stopped skipping naps I started doing enforced quiet time in her room. I set her ok to wake clock and she has to stay in her room but she can play with the toys in there or with her dolls or “read” books or rest, but she has to be somewhat quiet and stay in her room. I think t helped that she was already used to staying in there for naps at that time. She definitely comes out to go potty or ask me a question or otherwise stall but she mostly does play quietly. This is while her little sister is actually napping. </p> <p>The rest of the time they are just whining and fighting or being really loud. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782394 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 18:14:58 +0000 gingerbebe 2782394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've enforced it from a young age although it's been harder with the younger kid cuz he's never really alone. Basically we have them in a room or space alone (individually) with a gate or door and show them we are setting a kitchen timer. Say when it goes off we will come back. We leave them with toys that are extra special or fun or reserved for independent time, and leave. We watch on monitors or stay within earshot but out of sight. When the alarm goes off we come running, cheering, hooping and hollering. </p> <p>Then we do sibling time in a similar manner later in the day. </p> <p>They howl, they complain, they rattle the gate, then they....play! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782377 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 16:05:39 +0000 catlady 2782377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice for the 20 month old, but we set up our 4 year old with a little table and all her art supplies, and that is the only way she really "plays" independently right now. It also doesn't last very long, but we are working on it. Sometimes we try to set her up with other activities (like magnatiles or legos) that should be more independent but so far, she always ends up asking for help pretty much immediately with those. Some of my mom friends swear by legos and magnatiles though.</p> <p>Ironically our 11 month old plays for far longer by myself, so I do wonder if it is a personality thing with some kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782372 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 15:58:56 +0000 Mrs D 2782372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: So we actually joke that my 20mos is a loner. When we go to play dates she generally finds something and gets interested and just plays...whether or not other kids are around. Its cute...but I'll be honest it worried me until I went and observed her at school to make sure she is social enough. So I think if I had interesting enough toys in her room she might just do it. I agree, the two together would be cute for about 5 mins...then not.</p> <p>@Mrs Green Grass: She would inevitable try to climb out and break something...since I am constantly chasing a naked 20 mos old at bath time bc she escapes! :)</p> <p>Maybe attempting it but being prepared for it to not work is best! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782369 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 15:54:25 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2782369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son has always played quietly for long stretches of time but the main activities are art (a little hard to do totally independently) and building activities (gears, legos, etc.).</p> <p>My son just turned five and 4+ is the easiest time to start.</p> <p>Maybe put the little one in the bathtub with something? (No water...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782368 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 15:52:43 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2782368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a 5 and a 2 year old, and I think it's hard to expect a 20 month old to play quietly by themselves for a period of time. DS2 will sometimes do it on his own, but when my boys are together, it's constant bickering or fighting over a toy, and they're 3 years apart. </p> <p>DS1 is an emotional kid. He wants, craves, and needs our attention. Since he turned 5, he will go off and play independently more often, but he still would like us to be in the room or near him. DS2 isn't quite as emotional, but he's been clingy lately due to molars coming in. He will play on his own if DS1 isn't around, but if DS1 is around, they play together more often than not. And playing together comes with conflict. </p> <p>Maybe girls are different, but I think it's a little unrealistic to expect a 20 year old to play independently for a long period of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/quiet-play-time#post-2782364 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 15:43:53 +0000 Mrs D 2782364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So - DH and I want to start working w our girls on independent play. They are both in daycare full time during the week as we both WOH. Weeknights are non stop.</p> <p>However, on the weekends we struggle to get the girls to play quietly either together or by themselves. They seem to always need us or more often fight over our attention.</p> <p>DD1 - 4 years<br /> DD2 - 20 months</p> <p>DD1 will go play in her room if instructed to do so. DD2 is still a bit young and we have rough stairs...so I think I would maybe babygate her in her room. Or perhaps in DD1's room if they want to play together.</p> <p>Who does this? Does it work? How long do you ask them to play quietly for? (obviously if its the two together it wont be quiet)</p> <p>Just looking for any general ideas on how this has worked for you. I'm thinking for me it would be good to do it right before lunch - it would give me a break to cook and it would get them to start winding down before nap time. (yes my 4 yo still naps - we are holding on to it for dear life!!!!!) </p>