Developing a sense of independence is crucial for children's growth and development. Experts argue that spending time alone, especially learning to do specific tasks independently like homework, plays a vital role in children's lives.
From the crawling stage onwards, babies can be encouraged to engage in independent play with simple toys under parental supervision and guidance. Allowing for independent play experiences ranging from 5-10 minutes for ages 0-6 months to 10-20 minutes for ages 18 months and up can facilitate visual and tactile independent exploration.
Between the ages of 2-3, children gain more expressive abilities and explore independent play with simple playsets and building blocks. However, parental supervision remains important during these years.
From ages 4-6, children start to build more complex games and play independently. Playing with friends, engaging in role-playing games, and playing simple rule-based games can serve as examples of independent play during this period.
Between the ages of 7-12, children's sense of independence grows. They show interest in rule-based and strategic games and continue their development by engaging in complex social games alone or with friends.
However, it's essential to remember that each child's individual development is unique. As parents, guiding independent play processes more effectively can be achieved by observing and supporting children's interests and abilities.