Day 30: Independent Play

Independent play has always been an important thing in my house.  I am a pretty scheduled Mom and I have time every day where J spends 30 minutes in his pack-n-play playing alone.  I’ve been doing this since he was an older infant (starting somewhere around 7 months) for shorter periods of time.  I did do independent playtime when we was a newborn as well, but I placed him on a blanket instead.  You don’t have to be as structured with it as I am and you don’t have to use a pack-n-play like I do, but giving your child some independent time to play is important.

• It helps with problem solving skills, concentration, and creativity
• Gives children space to figure things out without adult interaction.  For example:  J learned how to go from lying to sitting by himself while he was in his pack-n-play.  I wasn’t there to help him and he just “got it” with out intervention.
• Great for self-esteem through the ability to problem solve on their own.
• Gives time for make-believe play which enhances all sorts of skills.
• Also helps with separation anxiety.

Independent play time allows for me to have extra time to get some of my stuff done as well.  I use that time to blog, clean, make phone calls, etc.  I used to feel guilty about this, but it’s gotten better since I noticed all the great things that have come out of doing independent play.

J stacked up all his toys in the corner during independent play.  See the problem solving and creativity it took to do this?

Here’s how I do independent playtime, but there are lots of other ways of doing it.

• You can do it in a pack-n-play, their room, or in any safe room. 
• Pick 5-10 toys that are age appropriate and interesting.  I always include books, a favorite toy, and a puzzle in my toy selection. 
• Rotate the toys on a regular basis.  I usually do it once a week.
• Pick a time that’s good for you and your child.  Don’t do it when they are tired or hungry.  I do it at 8:30 am and 5:00 pm.
• I set a timer so that he knows when independent playtime is over.
• I play music because he loves music!

Activity #30:  Hide and Seek

There are tons and tons of ways to play hide and seek.  Today, I want you to pick one and ask your children to play along.  Here are some great hide-and-seek ideas.  Pick one that’s good for your child’s age.

Infants:  Babies don’t understand that objects don’t disappear when covered until 8-9 months of age, so it’s a thrill for young infants to see an object re-appear!  This is called object permanence.

• Cover a toy with a blanket and pull it off. 
• Cover your baby with a blanket and pull it off.
• Play peek-a-boo
• Cover your face with a blanket and pull it off.

Toddlers;

• Cover objects with a blanket and let them pull it off.
• Hide a toy that makes music and have your child seek out the music to find the toy.

Older kids

• Play the classic game of hide and seek where friends hide and someone seeks them out
• Have them seek out to find different objects around the room (all the blue toys, all the cars, Easter eggs!)

J at 14 months playing peek-a-boo with his Daddy’s picture.

Tomorrow:  Wrap up and last activity