Do You Have Your DCK's Play Alone?

[Hunni Bee]

Not a majority of the time obviously. But for a few minutes each day?

I read on another thread that someone has an individual play area and she rotates all the kids in and out of it throughout playtime. When I allow someone to play at the computer, paint at the easel, go to the cozy corner, etc...they play alone but,...

I really want everybody to play alone for the first 10-15 minutes of Center Time everyday. Center time is the halfway point between arrival and nap, and I think everybody needs to get out of each other's faces for a few. Plus, I have a what I call a Twitter group, where everybody follows a few. I want them to develop their own interests, not just follow the herd all day.

I tried it this morning. A few played happily by themselves, a couple played with me. But about half moaned around, asking when could they all play together again (mostly the "follow me's"), no idea how to play alone and amuse themselves.

I'm thinking that I just need to stay with it and have them keep practicing. Does anybody do this and how does it go?

[Mom&Provider]

We have free play and if that means that someone is off on their own, it's fine with me. I don't ensure everyone has time to play alone, but if it ends up that way, I go with it.

Honestly I've never had an issue with any one child not doing their own thing. It's amazing how many different ways a child can figure out how to play house with dolls or build a train track!

[JenNJ]

I only separate the kids if there is an issue like arguing, not sharing/taking turns, or someone is whiny and grumpy. Otherwise I let them play together. I will limit the number of kids playing with a certain group of toys like blocks or the train table. That is really just because there is only so many of these toys and after 3 kids play it starts the arguing.

[sharlan]

No. I pretty much let them do their own thing. They play together, they parallel play, or they play in seperate rooms.

[Hunni Bee]

I tried it again today, and it seemed to cut down on the arguing once we did come together. We have a small space and we do need some time to regroup

[daycare]

I do a one on one with each kid in some way. But I only have 6 kids. Then I leave that child to play alone with their activity and move on to another child. While the one on one is taking place, the others are at free play. I move on and if the child wants to move on from what they are doing then they can go free play with the rest of the group.

I do also make each child get a book and sit on a pretend log to read to themselves quietly. I do require them to do this before morning snack and before nap time. It does cut way back on the craziness.