5 tips for encouraging independent play

One of the best ways to grab some time to yourself and get things done (not to mention maintain a level of sanity) is to teach your preschoolers how to play independently.

Now before you think this is just more thing to add to your never-ending parenting “to-do” list, let me assure you that despite however hard it sounds, establishing an independent play routine can be easy and incredibly rewarding.

To prove it to you, here are 5 tips for encouraging independent play

1. Have regular “mummy” playtime

The real key to establishing independent play is to make sure you have regular times where you get down on your hands and knees and play too. They need and crave their time with you, and will always be happier to play independently when they know you will be coming back to play again soon.

As tempting as it can be to write out the shopping list, tidy up or even check your emails or social media during your playtime, put all distractions aside and give your full, undivided attention.

2. Get them started

Often preschoolers find it hard to decide what to play or how to start, so encourage them by helping them get started with toys and activities they can continue to play with independently.

You might help them put together their train tracks, build a city, make a sheet cubby, set up a craft or even a teddy bears picnic depending on what your kids enjoy.

3. Keep toys easily accessible

To promote independent play make sure all shelves, toy boxes and drawers are easy for little hands to open and reach without your help. Also ensure their toy areas are easy to navigate and that they know where all toy sets are kept.

4. Rotate toys regularly

Instead of having all their toys out at once keep some tucked away in plastic bins or boxes and rotate them regularly to keep play new and exciting. You can also rearrange their play area, moving furniture and bigger toys around (if space allows) and changing the location of toys in cupboards to give your kids a new place to explore.

5. Use a timer

If your kids are clingy and find it hard to play without you, consider using a timer to get a play routine started. Simply set the timer or buzzer to the desired length of independent playtime (you may want to start with five minutes and gradually increase) to help your kids learn when you will be back to play with them.

Very soon they will understand that you are in fact coming back and will be more settled to sit and play independently.

Do you have any tricks for getting your kids to play independently?

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132 Comments

- - ChiWren said
  - 27 Sep 2024
    3:35 pm
Independent play is so important. My bub isn’t old enough just yet, but I look forward to encouraging him. I’ve read that you should limit the number of toys, not have an endless amount available otherwise they might have trouble keeping their attention. And rotating is very important, keep them having fun.

- - mummaJo said
  - 08 Jan 2019
    11:20 pm
Rotate toys regularly…that’s one I know I should do but don’t. My daughter has so many toys, we try to pack them away but she pulls them all back out, so there is no rotation, she plays with them all.

- - mom90758 said
  - 22 Nov 2015
    3:10 pm
So many special tips. I love tip number 1. I used to do that a lot with my daughter.

- - mom94125 said
  - 03 Jan 2015
    6:55 pm
i think that when they are ready that they will gravitate towards independant play

- - mom102977 said
  - 01 Nov 2014
    12:11 am
Great tips! Thank you.

- - rovermum said
  - 22 Sep 2014
    1:39 pm
These are all great ideas and some I’ve already used.

- - mom72550 said
  - 20 Sep 2014
    1:59 pm
Some great ideas -sometimes we need to get kids kickstarted to play on their own.

- - rachkap said
  - 20 Sep 2014
    1:20 am
Great tips thanks for sharing!

- - cherz said
  - 19 Sep 2014
    9:55 pm
Independent play time creates imagination and creativity, a little independent play here and there is good for their brain. Thanx for your wonderful article.

- - deangunna said
  - 19 Sep 2014
    9:50 pm
I had a daddy without work for 12 months and one of my children really struggles with solo play, as daddy was always there. Now daddy has gone back to work, learning to play sometimes alone is new learning curve.

- - aliceou said
  - 19 Sep 2014
    3:23 pm
It’s exciting to learn new parental skill

- - twinmum83 said
  - 19 Sep 2014
    1:01 pm
my girls are fine if I’m not there, but if I am there, they have to be doing what I am doing – they wont play on their own!

- - broke said
  - 20 Jun 2014
    12:58 pm
I had lots of trouble with my first child wanting me to play with her all day, although my other two children have had no problems. Although they all like to now were I am always checking every now and then.

- - deangunna said
  - 17 Jun 2014
    9:57 pm
All good tips, and in most cases they work most of the time, also try and get someone other than you to look after them as this give them a different outlook and helps stops the clinging on the leg syndrome.

- - mom62532 said
  - 17 Jun 2014
    1:54 pm
Some great suggestions. My little one is probably a bit young yet, but I will definitely keep these up my sleeve for later.

- - meedee said
  - 17 Jun 2014
    1:48 pm
I must say that all of my kids were great at spending time playing by themselves.
I have always loved my alone time and I think that perhaps my kids are the same….they dont mind having their own company.

- - scottie said
  - 31 May 2014
    8:30 pm
My grand daughter enjoys her independent play time

- - mom57522 said
  - 13 May 2014
    6:54 pm
Excellent ideas to help promote independent play.
- mom57522 replied
  
  31 May 2014 , 5:13 pm
  My kids will play independently but like it if I’m in the same room
- - cheezel said
  - 09 May 2014
    5:16 pm
my daughter loves both her independent time and shared times

- - Happymum said
  - 07 May 2014
    6:47 pm
I am so lucky, my kids love their time out to play alone