What to do while supervising independent play
Parents have to stay in the room for oversight, but trying to read a book or start a personal hobby immediately breaks the child's independent play because they want to join in. Instead, parents end up just staring in boredom or guiltily scrolling on their phones to fight the monotony.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
What to do while supervising independent play
- 1reading a physical bookDid this help you?
- 2hiding a book behind bent legs to avoid the child's attentionDid this help you?
- 3listening to audiobooks or podcasts with one earbudDid this help you?
- 4crafting activities like crocheting, knitting, or embroideryDid this help you?
- 5folding laundryDid this help you?
- 6doing sudoku, puzzles, or adult coloring booksDid this help you?
- 7Singing your own favorite songs and acting silly to keep yourself entertained.Did this help you?
- 8Going on long 1-2 hour stroller walks outside to eat up the day.Did this help you?
- 9Reading books you actually want to read out loud to the baby.Did this help you?
- 10Doing household chores with the baby nearby in a bouncer while chatting to them.Did this help you?
- 11Wearing headphones to listen to podcasts or music while playing.Did this help you?
- 12Taking the baby on errands or to adult-centric places like cafes or window shopping.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I was sitting on the floor with my 4 month old again today and couldn't help feeling like it's getting a bit monotonous. Same toys...tummy time.. repeat. I feel terrible but I can't help looking at my phone and then I feel bad for not engaging.”source ↗
“My kids are at the age where they will play independently (WOO!), but they still need parental oversight in the same room (ages 1 and 3). I find myself just sitting and staring at them and honestly getting bored.”source ↗
“As someone who has a similar issue around being mentally stimulated while my child was at that stage I would just roll a ball in front of their face from hand to hand and pretend we were playing keep away.”source ↗
“I wish I could read while my kid is playing. This is such a first world problem but anytime I crack a book around him he wants me to read it to him.”source ↗
“I have the same issue lol. I started sitting on the floor with my legs bent up and I hide my book behind my legs, it works 50% of the time if she's already engaged in something else.”source ↗
“If i pull out any kind of hobby for myself my kids immediately want to help.”source ↗
“I hate to say it, but at that age, I'm listening to something in my headphones. I can only peekaboo for so long.”source ↗
“Saving this for solidarity and for recommendations as well. LO is almost three months, and I feel like we need a bunch more toys because I feel like I'm getting bored and I'm not being as engaging as I should be for my baby, which then makes playtime and wake periods much more boring for the baby as well.”source ↗
Where this came up
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