There's a lot of writing recently on the importance of independent play and letting kids do their own thing, even if it seems like they're bored, so I'm wondering, how much do you insert yourself in play time or guide kids when they're playing or even when they're wandering aimlessly? I am very hands off with my 3.5 year old - basically if she's not asking me to play with her, I usually don't - but I sometimes wonder if I should offer myself up more or ask her to play together or let her do her own thing and let her take the lead on company.
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My 3.5 year old isn't THAT independent, so if he's playing by himself, I steer clear! I know it won't take very long before he's looking for me to play with him.
My 22m old is much more independent. He's happy to just do his own thing and I let him. Usually because I'm busy with the other one!
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Today was the first time I really sat down and played (dominos!) with my kids in some time. I mean, we spend a lot of time together and we read quite a lot, but actually playing, it doesn't happen often. But they are also almost 3 and almost 6, so they play well both independently and together.
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DD is fine alone if I am busy, and often will play by herself even when I offer. We read together every day, go to her little classes a few times a week, and I try to play if she asks me. She has an awesome imagination and I think that has a lot to do with the fact that DH and I don't bug her if she is happy.
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I don't interrupt her unless I absolutely have to. I love that she can play by herself.
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My LO is only 16 months, but I sit on the floor and play with her pretty often, now I'm starting to wonder if it's too much? Maybe I should let her explore more on her own.
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Essentially never. LO took some time in getting to sustained periods of independent play, so when it started happening, I just let him have at it. I think it's good for little children to have lots of free time to be a little aimless, because it seems to me that they end up finding something productive to do on their own in pretty short order.
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Lo is 2.5 and isn't very independent yet--she asks me to play, come sit with her, etc. But I try to let her lead the playtime. So like, if we're playing with her kitchen toys, she tells me what we're making or eating, rather than me directing the play. Though, I'll ask open-ended kinds of questions to push her, like if we're drawing I'll ask her what she's drawing, what colors she's using, etc.
When she does get engrossed in play by herself though, I definitely try to steer clear! It only happens for a few mins at a time usually though
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I do notice that some days they are more independent than others. But the kids are pretty good about getting themselves into things overall. DS is 3.5 and DD is 1.5. Sometimes they will bring me into what they are doing, but most of the time I observe and ask questions. I like watching them get lost in their own world of play, even if it makes no sense to me.
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I have been joining in more recently. He is good at independent play, but he needs more conversation to continue to improve in speech.
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Most of the time my toddler enjoys playing by herself, but she requires me to be very near. She's only recently started to accept me going into the next room; I'm thrilled I can get more stuff done.
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