How long do you/did you leave your approx 17 month old to play independently?

[JumpingIn]

Keeping an ear out/doing chores/watching on camera etc. How long will or would your toddler play alone in any given session?

I'm finding I'm getting 10 minute bursts when I'm lucky which I'm guessing is 'good' but I could personally do with a bit more peace sometimes! I do play with him a lot and try to take a back seat in some of those games but he still would much rather have me there and would play chase/hide and seek/mummy picks me up all day if he could.

 

[MindUtopia]

At 17 months, she wouldn't have really tolerated staying in another room alone without me for very long, maybe a couple minutes at most, and I wouldn't have left her longer than that as I couldn't have guaranteed she wasn't in to something that might have been unsafe and we don't have a designated play room or area that is completely safe for that. She certainly played for longer in the same room while I did something else, but no, I wouldn't have left her in one room and gone into another at that age for more than a couple minutes.

My daughter is older now, 3.5, so it's different but now I often leave her playing in another room at our house for 20-30 minutes on her own and she'd happily do something for that long or longer without needing me around, but with verbal check-ins (I shout, 'are you okay?' or 'what are you doing now?') every 5 minutes or so.

She's verbal enough now that I know she could let me know if she needed me, or I could tell by her voice if she was up to something she shouldn't have been. But I couldn't really do that at 17 months because she only said a couple of words at that age. And anyway, if I tried to leave her, usually she'd just follow me anyway! Often though, I'd just bring her in where I was and give her an activity near me and that was enough to allow me to get things done.

 

[JumpingIn]

Our whole downstairs is baby proofed with a camera in the living room so he can do what he likes He doesn't have any words yet either. You've made me feel quite lucky!

I also don't mind small messes (or even big ones really) tipped boxes etc so I suppose that helps

I clean chocolate and jam and snot and juice off my beige carpet at least once a day. Just doesn't bother me to grab a cloth or refill a box or whatever if it gives me a few minutes to breathe!

 

[Bevziibubble]

Mine was very clingy and would never really play alone. Even now she's pretty bad at entertaining herself. I got her to try to 'help out' with certain chores though to help her feel more involved.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

J has always been independant and wouls have for about 30mins at this stage but I wouldnt go far just potter around downstairs. X

 

[misspriss]

5 to 10 minutes is the best I can expect, but she is not alone she is with DS3.

On the rare occasion DS is off with grandma, she will play on her own (usually within eye range) for closer to 20, but it is rare that the stars align. Usually she is just clingy when he is gone.

 

[zorak]

Sometimes up to 30 mins with me listening in. We've done baby proofing and I don't mind small messes. He's rarely truly alone, his 3 year old brother is around too and will come get me if he thinks C is being naughty. I like it that they will play happily while I shower in the morning, helps my sanity.

 

[Rainbow82]

He will play independently while I'm in the room for about 30 minutes just occasionally bringing stuff for me to see, with me out of the room I'm lucky if I get to pee.

 

[SarahBear]

It was different for each kid. Leo is much more independent than Violet was, so I leave him longer.