Children can learn to play alone. It is particularly important that you enable them to do exactly that. Of course, the smaller a child is, the more difficult it is for him to find something to do on his own. You shouldn't demand too much here. But from the age of one, children are ready to play alone for a few minutes.
By the time they are around three years old, most children are actually able to play longer and extensively on their own. Under certain circumstances, a little inspiration from mom and dad is needed. But if they have found a game, a construction set or a puzzle that captivates them, then the parents have a break from broadcasting.
We want to shed light on how you can encourage your child to play alone every now and then and why it not only benefits you parents, but especially your offspring.
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Avoids constant overstimulation
Have you ever considered that you hardly give your child the time to play alone? If it is not parents, relatives or friends who entertain the child, it is often technical devices such as TV or tablet that constantly attract the child's attention.
There is no time for relaxation, neither for your child nor for you. In fact, you're literally teaching your child that they always need someone or something else to keep them busy.
In addition, many children are completely overwhelmed in these situations and cannot cope with the sensory overload. (Which doesn't mean that a child can't watch TV, as long as it's child-friendly content and only 20 minutes.)
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When you teach your child to play alone, i.e. to engage with themselves, you are giving them a gift. Then your child has time for free painting and doodling, building a castle out of cardboard boxes, taking a close look at the ladybugs in the meadow or discovering fantastic creatures in the clouds. All of this can encourage your child's imagination, creativity, complex thinking and self-confidence.
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4 reasons why it is good for your child to play alone
1. Keeping yourself busy strengthens a child's independence. Your child will benefit from this especially when they are older and do homework or study.
2. Inventing and developing something yourself, without any outside influence, strengthens your child's self-confidence.
3. Children get to know themselves better during alone time. They discover their innermost being, their world of thoughts and their imagination and learn to think up stories which they then paint or act out.
4. Independent play also promotes the security that your child can occupy themselves with themselves when no one else is available. This creates lasting confidence in your own abilities.
Try it out and show your child how it works
The first step to showing the child that it is completely okay to be alone sometimes - and that it is even fun - is to show it. This starts in infancy.
Even babies do things on their own
Put your child in the playpen or crib with toys that are easy to reach, stay within earshot, and stay quiet. Rattles or cuddly toys can keep a six-month-old baby busy for a good quarter of an hour, enough time to get a cup of coffee. This is also a way to teach your child to calm themselves sometimes.
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Once your child is mobile, your main job as a parent is to watch your child from a few steps away and make sure nothing happens to him. Luckily, toddlers find the whole world fascinating, so they can spend 20 minutes playing with a wooden spoon or exploring the pattern on the carpet.
When the little ones discover their interests and passions, show them your own too. Around the second birthday, for example, the child will understand when you talk about how you like to dance or like to read in peace - and above all, you should live it and demonstrate it. It's quite possible that your child will copy it and also discover an interest in dance or books.
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Encourage, don't force!
Encourage your children: “You built such a beautiful tower with your building blocks the last time you played all by yourself.” Try to extend the time you leave your child alone. For example, you can set a stopwatch and decide that the child should only try to play alone until the clock rings (for 15 minutes).
Don't force your children to play alone in another room, but rather create an incentive so that they like to keep themselves busy, even if they play with the car at your feet while you hang up the laundry.
No interruptions
Crucially, if your child is playing alone, you should not interrupt them. Sometimes it's not that easy when the little one plays so sweetly.
Important note at the end: The information and tips in this article are merely suggestions. Every child is different and reacts in their own way. It is therefore important that you listen to your child and find out which path is best for you.
