https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:38:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386636 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 20:01:43 +0000 Ms. RV 2386636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think about 3 months. She almost always tolerated being put on the activity mat and left alone, but at three months she startes playing with the haning animals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386528 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 15:21:34 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 2386528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have to say it took me 4 years to have the epiphany that my son just doesn't like being on his own and that is just his personality. He would love to go to school 7 days a week if he could but since he can't he is happiest when we are out doing things or if we are home and someone is playing/ actively interacting with him. That's not to say that he won't play on his own at all but it's definitely not a first resort for him. It was freeing for me to just accept it and take it as is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386525 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 15:12:58 +0000 MrsScallop 2386525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO just turned 3 and started being good with independent play in just the last few months. She will only play on her own if she knows I am busy though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386505 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 14:11:48 +0000 littlebug 2386505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a lot of this is just personality-dependent. My son has been good at entertaining himself since he was tiny. But my parents say that both my husband and I were good at entertaining ourselves when we were little, too. I don't really feel like we did anything in particular to "encourage" independent play, other than to just let him hang out on the floor on his own for a few minutes at a time (in a safe space, obviously). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386504 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 14:11:18 +0000 brownepiano 2386504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DS is 21 months and will play by himself if i an doing nothing. Like sitting on the floor doing absolutely nothing. Other wise he wants to sit in my lap or help me with whatever I am doing. We've encouraged independent play for a while but he still doesn't like it. He's just now getting to the point where he will wander off and play by himself for a while and then come back (never more than ten min) but it is almost always when he is pooping. He just loves helping too much! I think even if you try to teach them to play independently (which we have done) some kids just aren't interested. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386467 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 13:05:18 +0000 Smurfette 2386467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Still waiting....... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386463 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 12:56:24 +0000 FaithFertility 2386463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 5 days shy of 12 months...she can play independently some days for long periods of time 10-30mins multiple times a day, some days, like today 0 ......lol</p> <p>She played by herself starting around 5-6 months for a good 5-10 minutes </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386455 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 12:37:03 +0000 sarac 2386455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, since birth. Sleeping in the rocker, now at 4 months she loves to hang out on her mat and play with a toy or bat at the dangling things. She's chill enough that I'm able to hang out with her and knit or read a book for nice long stretches. Then when she gets hungry or lonely we snuggle up and nurse. It's really great. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386346 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 08:48:42 +0000 mrsrain 2386346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have done this since she was born, I guess. I started by leaving her awake (usually) in her crib while I took my morning shower. As she grew I might leave her playing with toys so I could use the bathroom or fix a snack. Once she started crawling I would allow her to do her own thing (in our child-proof living room) while I sat nearby, worked on dishes/laubdry, etc. she is 18 months and quite content to play on her own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386326 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 07:32:36 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2386326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son plays alone all the time at 21 months. I feel like as he gets older he will be more demanding that i play with him though! He's happy now to go in his toy room for a while without me (he's there now while I drink tea). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386320 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 06:46:31 +0000 hellobeeboston 2386320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, I'm waiting for this still. My 3 yo only ever wants to play with mommy or daddy, never alone! It's sweet but the only independent thing he will do is the iPad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386312 Sat, 12 Dec 2015 06:18:49 +0000 anonysquire 2386312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably 13 months when she started walking. Sometimes when I am feeding her brother she heads to her room and will play or read or sit there and sing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386254 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 23:00:25 +0000 gentlelunette 2386254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably from about 3 months? Before that she was so sleepy all the time that when she was awake I wanted to play with her and maximize those few moments before she nursed and drifted off again. Haha. Now (8.5 months) she plays quite well while I cook/tidy for about 20-25 minutes, with a few redirections away from the Christmas tree :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2386242 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 22:34:36 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2386242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PawPrints: Same here. She's played by herself since the very beginning. She'll hang out on her foam mat and play with various toys, grin at the dog, attempt to learn how to crawl, etc while I clean, cook, etc. (DD is currently 6 months old). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2385876 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 15:15:42 +0000 tlynne 2385876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both of mine started to play alone around 4-5 months old. DS2 is now 6 months old and will play on his tummy (or sitting) with a rattle or toy for 20-30 minutes. We often get him ready for the day, place him on the floor of his room, then get ourselves ready for work. DS1, age four, will play on his own for an hour or two easily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2385860 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 15:11:37 +0000 snowjewelz 2385860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom says whenever she picks DD (1y) up from daycare, most of them are usually playing by themselves. At home, if something really interests her, she can probably play by herself for up 5-8 minutes? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2385830 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 14:56:40 +0000 PawPrints 2385830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I guess she's been doing this since she was old enough to lift her head up? I never thought of it as something intentional or planned, we would just start leaving her on the activity mat (or now that she's bigger, a blanket on the floor) for a few minutes while we do laundry or prep food or whatever. She just plays with her toys and rolls around and smacks the dog. If she starts fussing we come back and help her. </p> <p>Maybe that will change when she gets older? She's only 8 months. Is there a point when most babies start to need an adult in order to play? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2385800 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 14:36:06 +0000 lamariniere 2385800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS was around 2.5? DD has been playing independently for longer stretches since about 16 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2385794 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 14:33:32 +0000 gingerbebe 2385794@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started IP really early - like 10 minutes in the pack n play at 5 months. Then we slowly extended it and now DS plays without problem for 30 minutes on an egg timer once a day in a childproofed space (currently our baby jail playroom aka living room. I make sure I can't be seen but am in earshot. We will be extending this gradually so that he can be playing in his own room for 1 hour by the time he's 2 years old.</p> <p>Basically I would try using an egg timer and say mommy will be back in 10 minutes and give lots of praise at the end of 10 minutes. Maybe even a small reward. And then once she's good with 10 minutes keep extending the time. If she pops out just walk her right back in with no words. If she has a fit, go comfort her, explain you will be back as soon as the timer goes off, and try again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2385790 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 14:32:03 +0000 BandDmommy 2385790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: early. My 12 month old plays by herself and started around 10 months. My 3.5 year old and 12 month old love to play together but also play separately. (They play in family room which I can see from kitchen) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-child-start-independent-play#post-2385776 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 14:26:58 +0000 LuLu Mom 2385776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our 3 year old plays AMAZING when she has a friend with her, she could play for hours in her room but when it is just her, we are lucky if she plays 10 minutes by herself. I would love for her to play in her room while I cook dinner or give LO2 a bath but she just doesn't like independent play. When did it start for you/did it ever? </p>