Your Toddler CAN Play By Themselves. Here’s How to Teach Them...

🧸 Getting your toddler to play independently can be a real challenge. While screen time can sometimes be an extremely helpful tool, independent play without screentime is hugely beneficial for development and once your toddler gets the hang of it, it opens the door to endless hours of fun and exploration.

But our children don't naturally know how to play by themselves. They need to first have an environment that supports independent play, and then they need us to teach them how to do it. Once they get started, they will continue to learn and explore, but most need that little bit of help to start.

In this video you'll learn the strategies we use as Occupational Therapists to teach young children the skill of independent play. Once they've got this skill, you'll be able to get that all important time to yourself to get things done around the house, or just take a moment for yourself, without relying on screens if you don't want to.

I hope this helps!

Links To My Favourite Toys

10 - 12 Months

1 - 2 Years

2 Years - 4 Years

#emmahubbard #toddlerdevelopment #toddler

Disclaimer:
The content on this channel is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.

If you have any questions or concerns about the health of your child, yourself or a family member, always seek guidance from your doctor or a qualified health professional. The content on this channel does not substitute, supersede or replace the advice of a medical professional. Never disregard the advice of a medical professional, or delay seeking professional medical advice because of something you have seen on this channel.

If you are in any way concerned that you or a person in your care may be experiencing a medical emergency, call the relevant emergency services in your area immediately.

External (outbound) links found on this channel, or resources, websites, or other content sources mentioned by this channel are not endorsed by this channel (Emma Hubbard) or it's owner (Hubbard Digital Pty. Ltd.) in any way. Under no circumstances is Emma Hubbard or Hubbard Digital Pty. Ltd. responsible for the claims of third party content providers, websites or educational providers.

If you wish to seek clarification on the above matters please contact Hubbard Digital Pty. Ltd. via the contact email on this channel.

[Scrystal]

My baby isn't 1 yet but I've watched so many of your videos already! Your Monstera is thriving!

[samu]

My son was able to play independent right from the start and prefered it. He had to learn to play with others.
My daughter took her time. Turned out she doesnt like to be/feel alone. As long I am in the same room she is fine.

[dvladimirova]

I honestly LOVE this channel and all the content. Helps me enormously in parenting. Thank you!

[AmeliaUnleashed]

Came here for tips and these are stellar. I didn’t realize that we already do these things and that my toddler actually plays a long time (1-2 hours at a time). I’ll reset my expectations! 😂

[raquelmorla-hopkinson]

Toddlers can totally have independent play without any help from anyone. I don’t own a tv and there’s a few toys and the kitchen cupboards and he’s can happily play on his own for over an hour 😅 and now if we go to someone’s house with a tv going he’s not even interested but goes and plays he’s 19 months and has been doing this from the get go 😅

[ekpebalogun]

Love your videos....straight to the point, educative, impactful

[PrenatalExercisebyBB]

Another great video Emma! I really love the suggestion of a “Yes Room” and rotating the toys. I will definitely implement these with my toddler.

[rachelbooth]

I have a three-nearly-four year old who struggles to play independently. She has a "Yes Space" and her toys are mostly right for her age and skills. I think she has possibly too many toys at once. I could do a toy rotation to keep her environment stimulating. I find playing with her difficult because she gets frustrated very easily and it's difficult for her to choose something to do that I can join her doing. She has a planning book with pictures of the activities she could choose to do and this can work sometimes. I think these steps will be good for me to try.

[s]

My baby is eight month old.i always introduce the toys to him as per your recommendation. Thank you Emma for your every educational vedio

[nshvh]

My son doesnt even sit still for screen time, so I don't give him screen time haha i do exactly what youve suggested here. Makes me feel like im having some wins!

[celitads]

Hello Emma. Thank you for sharing such valuable information. I’d like to ask u, how do these rules differ in neurodivergent children ? Children who like being on the move a lot or spend time stimmimg, how can parents encourage them to play?

[dianabaka]

Emma always delivers! Thank you for important and interesting up-to-date helpful information at its essentials! Thank you❤

[melissab]

You're giving away all the Montessori tips! 😂 Great video as always ❤

[agnesa.]

Thank you for this very interesting video!
My son is 12 months and I just learnt so many things and useful tips I had never heard of before
THANK YOU SO MUCH 😊

[itsmepandu]

Great suggestions as always helping both parents and their little ones, thank you so much

[marianneh]

this video offers such a great set of guidance, thank you!

[laylaoubssis]

Love your videos! if you don't mind, what app/videos editor do you use to make your videos? Thank you🙂

[raquelmorla-hopkinson]

Same my kiddos if happy for AGES 😅
Let kids do and figure this out for themselves. Sometimes show them but let them discover and they’ll be inquiring and independent cause they’ve done on their own/for themselves without you. We’ve never had a tv and when he sees one he’s totally bored and goes to play 😂

[kecskemetib]

What if we create a perfect "yes space" and the kids just don't want to stay there? For example, we have a big comfy baby proofed room with awesome developmentally recommended toys. Yet our 1 year old twins just won't stay there for too long. They want to come out to explore, which means wanting to play with the cables, the trash bin etc. and all the other exciting forbidden stuff in our room. And they let us know what they want very efficiently by banging on the doors or really on anything so loud that we have to let them out. And I don't even want to confine them to a small space for too long. But the rest of the house can't be fully baby proofed, so when they're out we really do have to change to hawk mode.

[YIE]

I don't have kids or wife but I admire ur content, and watch it regularly.
Thank you