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@JJ2626: My oldest at 2 wouldn't really play alone but would do things bit by bit when I pushed her. My 2.5 year old and 5.5 year old will play independently together for 45 min to 1 hr streaks now and it is glorious.

So my answer is both I think probably being older will help and also that ignoring her a bit won't hurt and will encourage her to figure out how to play on her own.

I had my 2nd when my 1st was 2 and remember very little independent play; I would have loved it! I think it’s personality too...

B is 6 and he still won’t play alone. W is 4 and he will - I think it’s, to some extent, kid-dependent.

My 2.5 yo hardly ever plays by himself. At his 2.5 year appointment our pediatrician asked if he played by himself yet. I said not really and she said “That may be coming soon!” She said solo play comes for many in the later half of 2. So it sounds totally normal to me! I’m very much looking forward to the day where I can cook in the kitchen without him right by my side “helping.”

DS1 is 7 and has never been super good at playing on his own. Even now he’d rather play on the main floor where we are than in his room or playroom. DS2 is 19 months and will play by himself in short bursts.

Theworkspaceforchildren.com or follow her on insta. She teaches a class on this.

You can teach her to do solo play. I do it as a preschool two year old teacher and as a parent. Set her with an activity she likes and a short timer (like three minutes to start) and tell her you are going to do the dishes and won't be available until the timer goes off. Then build on that. But seriously go check out the workspace for children because she walks you through it.

Independent play is totally worth teaching any age!!!

@mrs.kiwi: seconding the Janet Lansbury rec! My kids have all been great at independent play, even at younger than 2.

My son did a LITTLE bit at that age. Like in ten minutes blocks a few times a day. Now (4) he will for 30 minutes at a time but he definitely still prefers that we interact with him all day - impossible when we’re working from home like everyone else!!

@Art Mom: It may not sound great to you, but as someone in early childhood education it sounds wonderful to me. Independent play is the most important learning our children can do and you're giving your kids a really big gift by insisting on it. You're creating time for them to practice boredom, practice independence, develop their ingenuity, and be creative. What a gift. It's good parenting.

Not going to tag everyone, but PPs are correct that 10 minutes is a long time for a two year old, that it takes time to teach, and that birth order and personality matter. Although I would argue that birth order only matters because you unintentionally teach it to the second and third kids because you literally just cannot be with them all the time

My older one would play alone for a LONG time as soon as she could sit up. My younger one...nope, he's a leech and wants to be attached to someone...either me, my husband, the cats, or his oder sister. He knows how to play by himself (he's 2) but doesn't want to.