Alanna Gallo

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products. Healthcare professionals review articles for medical accuracy. Learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
When children play independently, they entertain, educate, and inspire themselves—all without the guidance of a parent or peer. This type of playtime is not only a breather for parents, but it’s an essential part of little ones’ development.
The Lego Classic Large...

Even if you mean well, and even if it’s meant to encourage them.
Have you ever been cranking on something for work, totally in the groove and feeling good about your progress, and then someone interrupts with an unrelated question about your weekend plans?
You probably lose all focus as you try to switch gears. Secretly you wish they would leave you alone so you could continue crushing it. They ramble on about something, and your brain has now completely given up on the task you were original...

Keeping in mind that the toys children have access to truly help shape their development, we've put together a list of the best Prime Day deals on open-ended toys that will keep your children engaged and playing for hours. If you are a parent who could use some time to yourself while your child plays independently, then you won't want to miss out on these!
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, Mom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of...

Believe it or not, it’s actually good for kids to spend time away from you.
Encouraging independence in young kids is the best first step.
As pandemic parenting drags on, mothers are beyond overwhelmed. Doing the impossible; day in and day out, as only we can do.
In one real-life experiment, working parents were interrupted by their children 45 times within the span of three hours. In another video, one mom tallied 27 interruptions from her kids in only 10 minutes. It’s ...

Let your child take risks. As parents, we want to protect our children. But there is such a thing as being overprotective. Children are hardwired to take risks. They want to explore, climb, run, jump and test boundaries. This is how they learn what they are capable of and how they develop their own ability to assess situations. You may not realize it but when your little one is climbing a tree or jumping off a rock — they are learning to assess risk. Being able to effectively assess and manag...

So you wish your kid would go just play without you? Of course you do. As parents, we need that — to work, for one thing, but also to be able to take a shower, have a hot cup of coffee or scroll social media for a few uninterrupted minutes. Like, to live.
But, more than that, independent play is a great way for children to learn life skills like independence, persistence, critical thinking, and problem-solving. So it’s not just about parents’ sanity; it’s also imperative that kids have ample ...

Teaching our kids independence is key. But it's not always simple for parents to do. Here are some easy things you can do each day to help your little one be more independent.
As parents, we want our children to be independent. But it's not always easy for them to become more self-sufficient and responsible. Some of this is because our instinct as parents is often to make things easier for them, rescue them from their mistakes, and limit their experiences with struggle or (gasp) failure.
It t...

The concept of mindset, coined by Dr Carol Dweck, Stanford psychologist, is the idea that parents need to understand. Dweck notes that there are two different types of mindsets.
A fixed mindset, and a growth mindset.
Fixed Mindset
A fixed mindset is when a person believes that their skills, abilities and knowledge are unchangeable. They often feel they are either “good at” something or “not good” at something — with no room for improvement. People with a fixed mindset don’t believe they have ...

Gaining more independence is an important and natural part of growing up. So what can parents do to make sure their kids are getting the support they need in order to become independent?
Some suggestions include giving them a sense of ownership over responsibilities, setting them meaningful tasks that have clear expectations and letting children work through problems without intervention from adults.
That last one is hard. I know.
So why is independence so important?
Have you noticed that all...

This post may include affiliate links and I may earn commission if you make a purchase through these links.
Children have an innate need for risk-taking. In addition, children who are encouraged to take risks at a younger age are able to better manage risk once they have gained more independence. A lack of ample opportunity to take risks may increase fear and inappropriate aggression, as well as limit the ability to cope with stress. All of this translates into an increase in physical and men...

This post may include affiliate links and I may earn commission if you make a purchase through these links.
Working from home with kids… SUCKS to put it mildly.
If you can’t afford a babysitter or nanny to watch them while you’re trying to get s**t done a simple task that may take you 15 minutes kidless turns into a two hour battle of the wills.
What you NEED is for your child to play independently and stay engaged in activities to help you get stuff done so you can spend time with them. Soun...