https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 21 May 2026 16:11:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2184784 Wed, 20 May 2015 16:52:56 +0000 HLK208 2184784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 3 year old and 6 year old cannot play without bickering! :bummed: so I have to step in often (like every 15 minutes haha) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2184771 Wed, 20 May 2015 16:35:05 +0000 serenity207 2184771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sorrycharlie - My mom was the same way and this is something I think about (in a good way) when raising my own kids! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2183369 Tue, 19 May 2015 13:51:56 +0000 sorrycharlie 2183369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Once we were old enough to play together my mom rarely played with us! :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2183363 Tue, 19 May 2015 13:50:28 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2183363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 20 month old is starting to do more independent play and I've been letting her but to be honest, it's hard for me. I always wish she would "leave me alone" for a minute and then I, in turn, struggle to leave her alone lol i think it's good for them to have free unstructured play </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2183361 Tue, 19 May 2015 13:49:10 +0000 serenity207 2183361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for your feedback!! I don't know why I started sending myself down the guilt path. The kids were having fun and, frankly speaking, so was I not entertaining them! They are getting to the age where they are learning to have fun with such each other for long periods of time and I'm left feeling...overjoyed and a little confused. Haha! Like wait, what? What is this new thing called "free time"?? Thank you all for keeping me from doing the crazy thing of stepping in for no reason at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2183255 Tue, 19 May 2015 12:51:14 +0000 MrsF 2183255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@serenity207: I can't wait for this! Enjoy it :happy: </p> <p>@kiddosc: I love that :heart: DD is 2.5 and DS is 5 months and obviously boring - so I'm definitely still "the show"! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2183214 Tue, 19 May 2015 12:31:57 +0000 Ajsmommy 2183214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always reflect back on me and my brother. My mom had it sooo easy!!! No joke. We'd get home from school, change into our play clothes while planning our play and then we'd be outside until dark. We'd come in, get a bath have dinner and go to bed... pshhhhhhh I always kid my mom and ask her what she did with all of her free time when we were growing up!</p> <p>That being said, I'd obviously leave them be :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2183202 Tue, 19 May 2015 12:25:46 +0000 Jess1483 2183202@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so excited for these days. No way in hell will I interrupt unless we need to go/accomplish something else. I dream of this... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2183200 Tue, 19 May 2015 12:24:52 +0000 hilsy85 2183200@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Let them play! </p> <p>I will sometimes step in to play with my only LO if he is playing nicely by himself, but that's usually because I'm bored! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2183198 Tue, 19 May 2015 12:23:47 +0000 daniellemybelle 2183198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: Love this!</p> <p>YES - let them play! This is the day all of us are dreaming of, haha!</p> <p>@Andrea: I do that now when LO plays by herself sometimes, haha! I feel a little guilty sometimes to not play *with* her all the time but independent play is awesome for both of us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2183072 Tue, 19 May 2015 11:30:32 +0000 Andrea 2183072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I leave them be and keep quiet as to not draw attention to myself! It's the best when they play for a few hours without me. :-p </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2183053 Tue, 19 May 2015 11:20:56 +0000 blackbird 2183053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pshhhhhh this is like the golden part of childhood! Leave them be as long as they want! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2182962 Tue, 19 May 2015 10:40:49 +0000 Adira 2182962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cannot wait for my youngest to be old enough to play with my oldest!!!</p> <p>Totally leave them to their own devices!! As long as they are happy, I wouldn't step in! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2182955 Tue, 19 May 2015 10:39:18 +0000 kiddosc 2182955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Chris Rock's advice to Jimmy Fallon..."Two kids are easier than one, because they play together. So when you have one, you have to be the show. When you got two, you’re just an usher.”</p> <p>I can't wait for that day, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2182904 Tue, 19 May 2015 10:21:38 +0000 birdofafeather 2182904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Those are the days I can't wait for!! I wouldn't step in unless they asked or I wanted to do a new project or some thing with them. Otherwise, that's a huge plus of siblings!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2182902 Tue, 19 May 2015 10:20:23 +0000 Synchronicity 2182902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd totally let them do their own thing for as long as it's working! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2182892 Tue, 19 May 2015 10:12:58 +0000 Mamaof2 2182892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gosh no way do I step in - when they are playing nicely I stay FAR away :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2182880 Tue, 19 May 2015 10:09:44 +0000 serenity207 2182880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just an example: my kids (4yo and 2 yo) have been playing together for 1.5 hours (minus 15m or so to eat) so far and are still going strong...although now that I'm posting this I'm sure the bickering is around the corner! Also, please know that this doesn't always happen and we have a good amount of sibling fights between the two! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-do-you-step-in-or-do-you#post-2182870 Tue, 19 May 2015 10:06:15 +0000 serenity207 2182870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you let your kids play by themselves for as long as they will or do you step in after a certain amount of time and play with them? Once in a while, my kids will play together for long periods of time (an hour, sometimes longer) and I use it to get stuff done around the house, make phone calls, etc. If they do get into an argument, I'll step in briefly to make sure no one is hurt and then encourage them to figure out a way to work things out on their own before I get further involved. I remember my sister and I used to play for hours by ourselves when we were little, and I feel like this is a great way for them to develop their sibling relationship while also building their creativity, imagination, social skills, etc....but some little part in me is also feeling a little guilty that I am leaving them to their own devices for so long! Can there be such a thing as too much unstructured play? Am I missing something or should I go with my gut and enjoy the peace and play while it lasts? </p> <p>I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this, but am interested in your thoughts! </p>