| Toddlers often get into the habit of requiring Mom | | | | more complex, toy (such as toy cars, a doll |
| or Dad to provide constant entertainment. This is | | | | playset, or Duplo blocks). Have a selection of |
| a frustrating situation for you as a parent | | | | different toys and give them a different toy each |
| because you feel like you can't ever do anything - | | | | day. One idea is to offer the same toy every |
| and it's not good for your little ones, either. It's | | | | weekday - so on Mondays your child plays with |
| beneficial for children to learn to play on their own. | | | | Duplo blocks, on Tuesdays dinosaurs, on |
| Toddlers need a lot of supervision and safety is | | | | Wednesdays play food and plates, etc. |
| always the first concern. As you decide to start | | | | When you first have your child start playing |
| teaching your child to play independently, put | | | | independently show how excited you are that |
| some thought into where they'll play. You may | | | | they get to have "alone time." |
| want to teach your child to play for a period of | | | | Some very clingy toddlers won't like this at all. |
| time near you. This is natural and children have | | | | Others will be delighted with the new toys. |
| been doing it through the ages. | | | | Remember to keep toys put away and every |
| Provide your child with simple toys and you'll find | | | | now and add again you can add new toys. This a |
| he or she will often be happy imitating you. You'll | | | | great use for excess holiday and birthday gifts |
| notice your child pretending to talk on the phone, | | | | you may be flooded with. |
| stir things and "cook," fold laundry, wipe up spills, | | | | If your child is one who is clingy I recommend |
| etc. Toddlers naturally love to imitate. | | | | you start small. Set a timer for five minutes and |
| Another option is to have your child play in a | | | | assure them you'll be right back. When the timer |
| child-safe area. With a young toddler I | | | | goes off, help them clean up and come back in |
| recommend a playpen or their crib. You'll be | | | | the room. Be cheerful and tell them what a big |
| putting a few toys in there, and it's a safe, secure | | | | boy or girl they are. When they're tolerating the |
| area for them. We have a playpen that only gets | | | | five minutes well, work up to ten minutes and so |
| used once a day on the weekdays - our toddler | | | | forth. |
| uses it for a thirty-minute playtime so I know he's | | | | Thirty minutes is a reasonable independent |
| safe. | | | | playtime for the young child. If you're having your |
| You can set up a child safe room for an older | | | | child play on their own in the playpen or |
| toddler or a preschooler. Keep a baby monitor in | | | | child-proof room, keep it at thirty minutes |
| the room if it's outside your line of vision, and | | | | maximum. If your child is playing near you as you |
| double check each time you're ready for your | | | | work, however, you can let them keep playing as |
| child to play to make sure all baby-proofing and | | | | long as they're content. If you see your child start |
| child-proofing measures are still sound. | | | | to get frustrated it may be a sign that a change |
| I recommend for a small toddler that you choose | | | | in activity is a good idea - but once they get used |
| a few baby toys they're fond of. Keep these put | | | | to playing independently near you, many children |
| away except for their independent play time. For | | | | are happy to do so for long periods of time. |
| an older toddler or preschooler you can pick one, | | | | |