Want to help your child play independently? Set up an invitation to play.

You have a play area full of toys, but your child still won't play independently . You hope your child will happily play so you can enjoy a (warm!) cup of tea. Instead, they cling to you, wander aimlessly, or want you to join in.

Why doesn't my child play independently?

Independent play is difficult for some children and this can be for several reasons:

1. There are too many toys in the play corner.
2. Your child finds it difficult to use his creativity.
3. There are toys that your child is not interested in.
4. Your child does not yet have enough concentration to play independently.
5. Your child never learned to play independently.

I could write a whole book on this topic. In this blog post, I'll address point number 2, because it's one of the biggest causes: your child finds it difficult to use their creativity and truly play with toys.

The tip I have for you is to set up an invitation to play to encourage independent play.

What is an invitation to play?

An invitation to play is setting up a play scene or activity, ready for play. Something that piques curiosity and invites your child to play. It's a simple way to encourage your child to play independently.

What encourages independent play more?

Below I've written out two scenarios. Which scenario do you think would help your child play more independently and creatively?

Scenario 1: You wake up in the morning and go downstairs with your mom. Mom is immediately busy in the kitchen making breakfast and says, "Go play." But where do you start?

Scenario 2: You wake up in the morning and go downstairs with your mom. When you get there, something's waiting on the table. You see your favorite beanbags , but also other toys. You're eager to explore them...

Do you see the difference? In both scenarios, you want to achieve the same thing: for your child to play independently. But the way you encourage your child to play independently is completely different.

Why does an invitation to play work?

By having something out of the ordinary, you spark curiosity. "Hey, there are my toys!" But what are they all like? Curiosity also sparks creativity and imagination. By wanting to explore what's there, your child will start playing independently.

The benefits of an invitation to play?

An invitation to play is a first step in encouraging creative play and teaching independent play. Independent play doesn't magically happen overnight. It requires practice and encouragement over a longer period of time to ultimately achieve longer, more independent and creative play. This starts with 1, 2, or 3 minutes, but it will naturally increase.

Besides encouraging your child to play independently, there are other benefits to an invitation to play:

• Independent play becomes easier. For children who struggle to get started, it helps if they get started.
• Toys that were "forgotten" get a second life. Are there any toys lying around that are no longer being played with? Use them in your invitation to play and inspire your child with new ideas.
• Toys your child didn't know how to play with before come to life. Those wooden figures might have been sitting in the toy cupboard for weeks, but by displaying them in an attractive way, they'll suddenly be used.
• Opportunity to reduce screen time and encourage more creative and independent play. We're tempted to turn on the TV when we need to cook, drink a hot cup of coffee, or do housework. But instead, set up an invitation to play. Children find it even harder to play after screen time. An inviting play area and an invitation to play prevent them from immediately asking for the tablet.
  

What do you put down to allow your child to play independently?

There are several ways to create an Invitation to Play. Here are three simple ways:

• Setting up a scene or play scene for role-playing:
  • Place bean bags with a few animals or figures on them. And place one animal or figure (the bean bag) on ​​the bed as a permanent fixture. There's a good chance your child will put the rest of the animals to bed as well.
  • Place a doll or stuffed animal in a wooden crib with a blanket and a bottle. Perhaps a baby will be cared for soon?
  • Build houses with magnetic tiles and place wooden figures and blocks inside them as if it were a village, ready for further exploration and independent play.
    

• Setting up an activity:
  • A sorting activity is always a hit. Place rainbow-colored beanbags along with other matching toys. And sort by one color first. So, place all the red items on the red beanbag.
  • Set up a basket of beanbags and a stack of paper cups as targets. Can your child throw at the target? This might spark their creativity and inspire them to come up with even more beanbag-throwing games .
  • Open a sticker book with a few loose stickers next to it. This immediately invites them to get started and play independently.
    
    

• Starting a construction to continue building:
  • Build half a tower of blocks and leave it unfinished. Your child will likely want to keep building.
  • Arrange some magnetic tiles in an interesting pattern. What could it be?
  • Place a few Stapelstein stones in a row and add matching beanbags to the Stapelstein stones . Maybe it will become a course?
    

And then the tricky part. Try not to direct or explain too much. Give your child's imagination free rein and see what happens.

Extra tip! Set out an invitation to play in the evening for independent play and hot tea in the morning.

On Friday or Saturday evenings, I often take two minutes to set up an invitation to play for the next morning. The kids love having something waiting for them in the morning. And I love having hot tea and a calm start to the day.

Give it a try!
Are you going to give it a try? Set something up like this and see what happens. I'm really curious! And I'd love it if you DM me on Instagram with a photo and your experience with your invitation to play.

Love, Patty