Encouraging Independent Play
During the COVID-19 pandemic, parents and caretakers have found themselves spending substantially more time at home. With schools, social activities, parks and outings temporarily paused, finding activities to schedule throughout the day has become increasingly difficult. While social activities are more limited during this time, our behavioral therapists are still able to help provide the tools needed for your child to be successful and gain independence.
One of the most important tools to help your child gain independence is independent play. This means providing activities for your child to be able to occupy their own time through fulfilling and enjoyable options. Independent play is a skill that we regularly encourage throughout our sessions at Communication Lab. This can be a challenging skill to master, but with some practice, patience and guidance, it can be a truly rewarding time for both you and your child.
Here are some helpful guidelines that our behavioral therapists implement during their sessions and some great tips that you can use in order to encourage independent play with your child:
Locate a clear and safe space free of distractions where your child can remain alone for at least 10 minutes. Note: this space should be away from all electronics and televisions.
In this clear, safe space, place 3-5 toys or activities that your child would find engaging such as puzzles, building blocks, lego’s, coloring/art supplies, and books. These activities should be rotated on a regular basis.
When you have introduced your child to the safe space, demonstrate how to play with the activities you have provided.
Key Tip: when your child begins to follow your prompts and engage with the activities on their own, that is your cue to begin to fade out. As you begin to leave, communicate to your child and explain that you will be leaving. For example, “I am going to clean the dishes now. You’re doing so great playing with your blocks all by yourself! I will be back here to play with you when I am finished”.
When encouraging independent play, you should always continue to safely monitor your child from a distance. You should also ensure that you limit verbal commands during this time as it will provide your child an opportunity to explore this new experience of ‘free time’ on their own. Remember, this skill takes time and your child may need a moment to acclimate to their new environment of being alone. It is also important to avoid toys that will be used in a repetitive manner or may be overstimulating for your child. The goal is to keep your child regulated, so they can transition easily to the next activity and enjoy the remainder of their day in an optimal state.
Some amazing benefits of independent play include providing your child with an outlet and the opportunity to be able to freely express themselves. It can also give your child a boost in their self-confidence. During sessions, we have seen first hand that a child is able to take this time to express their own creativity and find passions through art, music, designing and building with legos and blocks. This is also a huge benefit to you as a caregiver as this valuable time will help everyone gain more independence.
If you would like to learn more about encouraging independent play and how we build play skills here at Communication Lab, please reach out to us at connect@communication-aba.com.