Why kids need to know how to play alone

Posted on February 23, 2016 by heatherlauraclarke

This week in my parenting column I’m talking about that sweet P.A. life skill — Playing Alone. I have very strong feelings about this and it always shocks me when people don’t encourage, nay require, their kids to play by themselves.

Here’s a preview …

… I’m always a little surprised when I talk to parents who complain that their kids are just not very good at playing alone. “They always want me to play, too!” they moan. “They follow me the second I leave the room!” “They won’t play by themselves at all!”

It’s kind of fascinating. Maybe some parents are teaching their kids to play alone without even realizing it? Maybe other parents are raising super-sociable kids who thrive on being around other people all of the time? Or maybe it’s really an introvert/extrovert thing? All I can say is, it must be freaking exhausting to have to entertain a child during every waking (non-screen) moment.

As a card-carrying introvert, I fall into the parenting camp that believes playing alone is a life skill. It’s the foundation for being content with your own company! It’s when you make up little games and listen to your own thoughts! Without alone time, I would never have gotten the (awesome) idea to mix up concoctions of leaves and powder and water and cram them into my Darling Dreamer doll’s animatronic mouth …

To read the full column, pop over to the Dartmouth Tribune!

Give your kids boxes, tape, scissors and crayons, and … wait, lost my train of thought because IT WAS SO QUIET FOR SUCH A LONG TIME 🙌 #creative #kids #FTW

A photo posted by Heather Laura Clarke (@hfxheather) on Feb 6, 2016 at 5:51pm PST

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Category: Parenting, Playtime, The Mom Scene

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I’m Heather Laura Clarke. I’m writer living in beautiful Nova Scotia, I have a 11-year-old son and a nine-year-old daughter, I married my high school sweetheart, and this is the story of my handmade life.

I have depression and anxiety, and I fight like hell every day to keep it from taking over my life. Making things isn’t just a hobby — it’s part of what keeps me alive.

Whether I’m writing novels, decorating a room, busting out my power tools to build furniture, getting muddy in the pottery studio, sewing clothes for my kids, or cross-stitching a swear word, I’m all about using my creativity to craft a life I love.

I’ve been writing this blog since 2009, so if you dig deep into the archives, you’ll meet a bright-eyed 25-year-old newlywed who was basically obsessed with having kids, buying a cozy house, and supporting herself full-time as a writer. (Spoiler alert: she got exactly what she wanted.)