Toddlers and young children often seem to have endless amounts of energy! Their curiosity and love for life is inspiring. And while there is so much value in getting down to your child’s level and playing with them, there are times where a little independence is needed. Keep reading for 12 screen-free ideas for how to encourage independent play in kids!
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Why I Was Wondering About How to Encourage Independent Play
At the time I am writing this, I have a five year old, 2.5 year old, and 3 month old. Life is busy and full and messy and beautiful. Our days are full of smiles and singing, wiping up tears and cleaning messes. On top of this, we have a 2.5 acre homestead, and we are homeschooling our children.
There are times when I need my toddler to play independently while I work with my oldest. There are also times where I need both of my older children to play independently while I switch the laundry, make dinner, or feed the baby.
Earlier this winter, I felt at a loss. With more hours spent inside, I felt burned out from trying to come up with activity after activity for my kids.
I value a Montessori, student-led approach; however, I was in need of some fresh ideas. I talked with some moms in our homeschool group, and I compiled a list of some new independent play activities for my kids!
What Is Independent Play?
Independent play is when a child engages in activities or playtime without direct adult guidance, interaction, or involvement. It encourages children to entertain themselves, explore their imagination, and build problem-solving skills.
Independent play fosters creativity, encourages problem solving, builds confidence, improves focus and patience, and supports emotional development for children.
Facts About Independent Play
We live in a society that is constantly busy and on-the-go. We expect more and more from children sooner and sooner.
“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.” – Kay Redfield Jamison
Another quote from AlabamaWaldorf.org says, “In today’s fast-paced world, where technology and structured activities often dominate children’s time, the concept of independent play might seem counterintuitive. However, from a pedagogical standpoint, independent play holds immense value in nurturing a child’s holistic development.
The philosophy of independent play is not just about keeping children entertained; it’s about nurturing their inner world, creativity, and sense of self. From early childhood to middle school, the value of independent play remains consistent, even as the nature of play evolves to suit the developmental stage of the child.”
“By … providing space for unstructured, imaginative play, educators and parents can empower children to become well-rounded individuals who are capable of approaching challenges with creativity, curiosity, and confidence.” – Alabama Waldorf School
While we should not expect toddlers to play independently all day or for hours at a time, we do our children a disservice if we don’t make time for play. Independent play, when combined with playing with a parent or other children, can help children build confidence, resilience, and creativity.
How Long Can Kids Play Independently?
While the length of time that a toddler can play independently will depend on the child, here are some approximate independent play times for kids by age:
- 6 months: 5 minutes
- 12 months: 15 minutes
- 15–20 months: Up to 60 minutes in a safe space
- 18 months and older: 60–90 minutes in a safe space
- 3–5 years: About 2 hours per day
Why Screen Free Independent Play Activities for Toddlers?
We are not a 100% screen-free family, but we do really try to limit our children’s interaction with screens.
Jonathan Haidt, the author of the book The Anxious Generation quotes, “By designing a firehose of addictive content that entered through kids’ eyes and ears, and by displacing physical play and in-person socializing, these companies have rewired childhood and changed human development on an almost unimaginable scale.”
“By designing a firehose of addictive content that entered through kids’ eyes and ears, and by displacing physical play and in-person socializing, these companies have rewired childhood and changed human development on an almost unimaginable scale.” – Jonathan Haidt, The Anxious Generation
While I think occasional screen time or movies as a family can be positive, replacing play with screens is changing childhood in a negative way. We need a different approach.
But as busy parents who have a long to-do list and commitments, trying to find ideas or the time to come up with screen-free ideas is exhausting. Here are some ideas to get you started, compiled by a mom who was struggling with allowing too-much screen time during the winter months!
A Helpful Note About How to Encourage Independent Play
Oftentimes, I will model the activities below or play with my children for a few minutes before expecting them to play independently. As mentioned above, independent play is a skill that can take time to build up! Connecting with your kid first really makes a positive impact.
A few other tips are to make sure the area that they play independently is a child-proof, safe space. Select developmentally appropriate, open-ended toys.
Stay close by, within eye and earshot to help your child feel secure. If you really want to foster independence, allow creativity and don’t tell your child what to do with their open-ended toys.
Make independent play part of your daily routine. Work up to it and don’t force it to happen all at once! My friend KyAnn Molina, the host of the Simple Rhythms for Busy Moms podcast, has some great resources for creating daily rhythms that work for your family.
Disclaimer About Supervision Related to How to Encourage Independent Play
While these are independent-play activities, many of them do require close proximity from the parent, especially if your sensory bin or toys contain small parts. Independent play does not mean unsupervised play.
How to Encourage Independent Play: 12 Screen-Free Ideas
Here are 12 screen-free activities to encourage toddlers to play independently! Some of these recommendations are ones that my own children love and others were recommended by other moms that I know and trust!
Playdough
This is a classic, sensory play idea that kids have loved for generations! You can purchase pre-made playdough like this, or you could even make your own!
My mom made homemade playdough, and I still remember the warmth and smell of it! If you have the ingredients and time, homemade playdough is sure to be a hit! Get an easy recipe for homemade playdough here.
Kinetic Sand
This one is far from mess-free, but many kids love kinetic sand! You could put it in a bin or on a tray to make it less messy.
If you are working on a unit study with your older children for homeschool, you could involve the younger kids with a kinetic sand sensory bin that is on theme with the unit study topic!
Felt Board
Another mom encouraged me to try a felt board with my kids! You can make your own pieces if you enjoy crafts or buy pre-made ones like this!
Felt boards are nice because they are not messy, young kids don’t need help removing pieces, and they can be re-used over and over again.
Stepping Stones
You could use these portable stepping stones inside or outside. They can be stacked, spread out around a room, or used for pretend play! They can help toddlers practice gross motor skills while learning their colors!
Sensory Bins
My kids love sensory bins! I usually make them in a bucket, bowl, or tray. I put some of their waterproof toys in it for them to dig for and play with! Some possible sensory items to use include rice, beans, dried pasta, sand, shaving cream, colored water, bubbles, etc.
If you think you’ll use sensory bins often and have the space, a sensory bin table like this might be helpful.
If you choose to use small small items such as rice and beans, you will need to provide direct supervision for young children. However, they can most likely play with their sensory bin while you work on something at the table next to them.
I like to buy rice, beans, and salt for sensory bins and cooking in bulk from Azure Standard. Read this post to learn more about Azure Standard.
Magnets
A few years ago, I bought a few magnet sets from the dollar section at Target. I bought sets that contained dinosaurs, farm animals, weather, vehicles, and more!
My kids love playing with these magnets on a magnetic cookie tray.
Books
If you expose children to lots of books at a young age, it can help them develop a love for literature. One way to create a literacy-rich environment in your home is to make books accessible to your kids in baskets or on low shelves.
Here is one of my favorite books for young children!
Legos
Legos are so good for kids’ fine motor skills and brain development. If you have a child who is not ready for regular-sized Legos, you could get Duplos which are designed for younger children.
Yoto Player or Audio Books
We love checking out audiobooks from our local library! You could get some kid-friendly headphones and encourage your little one to flip the pages as they listen.
Another option is a Yoto player. This is a wish list item for my kids! It is a screen-free device that plays audio books and songs with cards that you purchase separately. You can also get a blank card where you make your own recording.
These devices are designed so that young kids can operate them without assistance. Due to the design, they can only listen to what is on the card–making them a much safer alternative to technology with a screen where kids can access much more.
Play Kitchen
We got an Ikea play kitchen when my son was a toddler. It has held up way and my kids play with it daily! Get some play food and encourage your kids to be creative! Here are some fun accessories for your child’s play kitchen.
Paper Dolls
Slightly older toddlers might enjoy paper dolls! You could get a pre-made set like this or print off your own like this set from Etsy!
Stacking
Practicing stacking or sorting is a great skill for toddlers! Give them some simple wooden blocks or some stackable rocks like these (contains some small parts) and see what they create and build!
Investing in Independent Play Activities for Toddlers is Worth the Effort
If you have been looking for some screen-free activities to encourage your toddler to play independently, I hope that these suggestions can give you some fresh ideas! Toddlers learn through play, and they are capable of so much.
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