Independent play is an important part of toddler development. It allows children to explore their world and learn about themselves and their surroundings.
How do I teach my toddler to play independently? This can be a daunting question for parents, but it is important to remember that all children are different and will develop at their own pace. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of independent play and offer some tips on how to foster this important skill in your toddler!
Is Independent Play Good for My Toddler?
As a parent, you may have heard conflicting information about whether independent play is good for toddlers. On one hand, some experts say that independent play is essential for toddler development. This is because it allows children to explore their world and learn about themselves and their surroundings.
On the other hand, some people argue that independent play can be harmful to toddlers because it can lead to them feeling isolated and bored.
So, what is the truth? Is independent play good for toddlers?
Here at Build Strong Happy Families, our answer is: Yes, independent play is good for your toddler. The caveat is that it’s helpful as long as you offer it in a way that meets your child’s needs. We’ll look into this more later in the article.
Why is Independent Play Important?
Independent play is important for our sweet young ones, and there are several reasons why. Let’s look into some of these reasons.
Develops Cognitive and Language Skills
One of the benefits of independent play is that it helps to develop cognitive and language skills. When children engage in play by themselves, many wonderful things happen in their brain. For example, it is a great opportunity for them to process the things they have been learning throughout the day or the events that are going on in their lives.
I remember one time when my twins were about three, they watched a movie that had a dramatic moment. None of us were expecting it, and because of that, we weren’t really prepared for how to talk with our kids about what just happened.
After the movie, the kids naturally moved into a state of play, and as I watched from the kitchen, I saw them reenacting the situation they had witnessed. It was a great reminder to me that kids make sense of their worlds and also process their emotions through play.
In addition to this, as they play, toddlers will often talk to themselves. This helps them to practice using language and figure out how to communicate their ideas–even if it’s just to their stuffed animal buddy.
Again, this gives them an opportunity to practice what they have experienced, especially from people close to them, like their caregivers. We don’t always realize it, but as parents, we are modeling emotions and speech patterns to our kids. And they are soaking it in and making it part of who they are.
When he was two years old, one of my sons was playing with a toy dinosaur. I was amazed as I watched from the other room, when he not only gave his dinosaur a “bath” in a little toy tub, but then also gave the dinosaur a hug when it was hurt during their imaginitive play. He talked to him with gentle words, as well as an empathetic tone and facial expressions, just the way he has seen his mom and dad do with him.
Builds Confidence and Self-Efficacy
Another benefit of independent play is that it builds confidence and self-efficacy in your child. When toddlers are given the opportunity to play independently, they learn that they are capable of entertaining themselves. Not only that, but they’ll also experience hard things and work their way through them at their own pace, with the help of their own ideas.
Times like these can be a big boost to their self-esteem!
In addition, independent play gives toddlers a chance to practice making choices and decisions.
This helps them to develop their own sense of authority and control. If they can choose what they want to play, and in what manner they want to do it, then they will have more experience with making decisions that they feel ownership over.
That’s a skill you’ll want them to have once they are learning in school, or facing peer pressure, or moving up their chosen career ladder.
Fosters Creativity and Imagination
Independent play also fosters creativity and builds imagination in toddlers. When left to their own devices, children have the freedom to explore their imaginations and come up with new ideas.
This is something that is often lacking in more structured activities because of the nature of such strict parameters. If there is one way to play a certain game, there is no room for innovation.
While structured games and activities are great for teaching other skills, such as cooperation, communication, taking turns, and following directions, independent play is where creativity really has a chance to shine.
In today’s world where the sky is the limit as far as careers go, it’s more important than ever to encourage imagination in our kids! This is true whether they gravitate toward computer-based engineering or homesteading on a little family farm. It’s vital to have the skill of being able to think outside the box.
Teaches Kids to Develop Interests and Problem-Solve
In addition to fostering creativity, playing independently also allows toddlers the opportunity to develop their interests. They can try a wide variety of different activities at their whim. And if they discover that they are interested in a certain activity, they can explore it as much or as little as they want without interruption.
This is different from group play where there is usually only one activity and everyone has to do it together.
Independent toddler play also teaches kids how to problem-solve on their own. If they aren’t sure how to make a certain toy work or a tub needs to be opened, for example, then they have to figure out how to solve the problem themselves.
I witnessed this beautiful experience in one of my kids when he was a toddler. By the end of his playtime, a single toy will have functioned in multiple ways. A simple stick would have become a sword, a bridge, a drill, a machine, and more!
This is the type of thinking that leads to great inventions, so it’s important to encourage and give opportunity for kids to play like this from a young age, where they are uninterrupted by our personal opinions and frameworks that inadvertently box in their ideas too much.
Cultivates Patience and Resilience
Finally, playing alone can teach toddlers how to be persistent and resilient. When they are playing by themselves, they will inevitably face challenges. This could be something as simple as a toy not working the way they want it to.
In order to overcome these challenges, toddlers need to be patient and resilient. They learn to stop, assess the situation, calm their frustration, and then keep trying until they find a way that works for them.
All of these skills are important not only good for kindergarten readiness but also for life in general.
What Are Some Ways I Can Encourage Independent Play?
Now that we’ve looked at some of the benefits of independent play, you may be wondering what activities you can provide for your toddler to encourage them to play by themselves. Here are a few ideas:
- Provide plenty of open-ended toys such as blocks and art supplies.
- Encourage pretend or dramatic play by making up stories when you are together, acting out familiar scenarios, or providing dress-up clothes for playtime.
- Give your child opportunities to make choices and decisions on what they will play or do.
- Let them lead the way during playtime! Each child is unique and will find a different activity stimulating during this time.
Remember, every child is different and will develop at their own pace. If your toddler isn’t showing an interest in playing independently yet, don’t worry! They will get there eventually. Just keep providing opportunities for them to explore and play on their own.
There are Benefits for Parents, Too!
And last but not least, independent play can be beneficial for parents as well. It gives us some much-needed free time to take care of things that we need to do or just to relax.
It also helps us to remember that our toddler is their own person with their own thoughts, ideas, and opinions. It is good for them to develop their own sense of self and for us to as well.
The final benefit we’ll mention here is that parents who take care of themselves will show up as better parents when they are back together with their kids. So use independent playtime as a time for you to fill your own bucket as well.
Conclusion
Independent play is so important for kids (and for adults!). This article listed just a few of the benefits this activity can have on not only your toddlers but everyone in your household. If you’re looking for ways to encourage your toddler to play independently, try out some of the activities mentioned above.
And remember, every child is different and so don’t get discouraged if it takes a little exploring and practice for them to embrace independent play! It will come, with time and consistency.
What are some of the benefits you’ve seen from independent play in your toddler or young child? Let us know in the comments below! Happy playing!