Benefits and Tips to Encourage Your Child to Play Independently

Do you find it difficult to strike a balance between spending time with your children and focusing on your own activities?

If you feel you can’t spend as much one-on-one time with your children as you’d like- playing with them, helping them with homework, encouraging them, listening to their worries, and helping them reflect on how life is going- you may experience severe parental guilt.

 

BUT… did you know that teaching your children to play independently is also important? Some of the advantages of independent play include:

 

• Imagination and creative play are encouraged.
  When there isn’t an adult around to direct things, children can be more creative – there is less need to conform to specific rules or explain their play to another person, and they can just go wherever their imagination takes them.
• Taking a break.
  With TV, computer games, and the rest of life’s distractions, children don’t have as many chances to let their minds wander. Independent play (such as drawing or playing with Legos) can be soothing and even meditative for children, allowing them to unwind from the day while also developing persistence and problem-solving skills. Without an adult to assist or make suggestions, children can experiment with their own methods of problem-solving and are more likely to keep trying different things until they find a solution.
  
  
• Instilling patience and resilience in children.
  Children must learn at some point that their parents cannot always be at their beck and call. Knowing how to play independently and wait for help can teach children patience and give them the confidence to know they can do things on their own.
  
  

There are, of course, advantages for parents as well!

 

Many parents must work from home on occasion. It’s also critical to teach your children not to bother you while you’re working (except in emergencies!).

 

Parents need time to unwind, talk on the phone with a friend, take a bubble bath, watch their favourite TV show, or talk with their partner. They may also require one-on-one time with another child, which siblings must learn to respect.

So, how can you encourage your child to play on his or her own?

 

Here are some pointers that might be useful:

• Explain the expectations to your child.
  For example, they are expected to play independently for 10-30 minutes per day (depending on age). Make sure your child understands that this is not a punishment, and explain why it is necessary.
  
  
• Set a timer.
  Set a timer or show your child the clock so they know when they can stop playing alone and come to show you what they’ve done (though they are free to continue playing if they prefer!)
• Activities for brainstorming.
  Sit down and make a list of all the activities they can do on their own. It could include lego, puzzles, word searches, drawing, dolls, or action figures. It may also include longer projects that can be completed in stages, such as creating a comic book, designing a city, or creating birthday cards or books.
• Set the parameters.
  Make certain that your child understands what they are and are not permitted to do while playing independently. Are they, for example, permitted to use scissors or glue? Is it permissible for them to go outside or use the kitchen? If their activity involves something that they are NOT permitted to do on their own, either encourage them to choose a different activity or assist them with parts of it before they begin.

Independent play is especially important as children return to school, parents return to work, and everyone in the family requires some alone time from time to time. It can also make the start of the school year less stressful for everyone!