my son is nearly 3 and my little girl is 4 and they go up stairs when iam not looking and play in there rooms
they both go up and down the stairs with no trouble when is it safe to let them play in there rooms on there own?
2006-10-12 01:43:20 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
What makes it safe for a child to play in their rooms alone depends on what is in their rooms and how long it would take you to get there if something happened.. also, how many times and how often they're checked on.
I would be less worried about the stairs as I would be about them getting into something they shouldn't be getting into, or falling off a piece of furniture and hurting themselves, or sneaking upstairs with a pair of scissors and cutting themselves...
They should be checked on NO LESS than every 10 minutes, and I would still keep a baby monitor either hidden in their room, or in the hallway so that I would be able to hear if someone got hurt.
There would be nothing worse than getting immersed in a TV show while they're in their room playing to go check on them 1/2 hour later to find that one of them choked on something.
You can let them play in their room alone, but stay vigilant. They still don't have the skills to know all the rights and wrongs or the dangers of the house.
2006-10-12 01:51:20 · answer #1 · answered by Imani 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
When you feel that they will play safely by themselves. If they can manage stairs, you have door stoppers so they can't trap fingers and the surroundings are safe then you shouldn't have any problems. Why don't you sit and watch them for a while and see what they do. They will enjoy having Mummy watching all their efforts, unhindered. Throw in a "well done" every now and then, but otherwise just sit with a cuppa and a magazine and watch. If they want or need help then you can, but you'll be able to see how capable they are without interrupting their play and you will feel more confident about letting them play in their rooms. My daughter is nearly 4 and has been playing by herself in her room since she was very little (about 10 months). As a qualified, registered and experienced childcarer, I always try to give the children as much space and freedom as possible because it helps them to develop confidence and an awareness of the world around them. It also shows that you trust them to behave and play properly.
2006-10-12 02:00:10 · answer #2 · answered by Clare 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My son is almost 4 and I have let him play in his room alone for about a year now. There is nothing in his room that will hurt him and I just go check on him every 15 min or so. If you are still concerned about it but would like to give them a little freedom you can always put a baby monitor in there and and then you can hear what they are doing :)
2006-10-12 08:46:24 · answer #3 · answered by totspotathome 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go get a "Summer" brand monitor (Babies-R-Us sells them) and put it downstairs, with the moniter either in the hall between their rooms or if they share a room, in the room.
This has to be the greatest monitor I've ever used (I've had several). Even though the monitor is across the room, I can hear them sleeping. It's better than actually being in the room with them lol. I use it a lot when my two girls are sick, I can hear everything that's going on.
Then let them play and have fun, they need that time together and alone.
2006-10-12 06:40:51 · answer #4 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I started letting my son play on his own at around age 2. I just made sure there was nothing he could swallow, nothing he could get into that he shouldn't, and I checked on him every 15-20 minutes. It helped me out extremely, I could fold a load of laundry, load the dishwasher, put on my makeup or fix my hair, clean up the house, etc. It helped him because he learned he didn't have to have mommy by his side ALL the time, and that it was okay, it taught him independence...and I think it made a major difference when I started him in daycare at 2 1/2 so that I could go back to work :-)
2006-10-12 04:48:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I live in a flat so it's all one level. I have 10 month old twins & a 2 yr old. My 2 yr old & the twin that can crawl goes in2 the eldest's room all the time, this probably doesn't help you with your question as they don't have stairs to climb but what I suggest is maybe getting baby monitors & keeping one on you & one on your landing so you can hear them no matter what room they are in!
2006-10-13 00:20:21 · answer #6 · answered by C Greene 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My little girl turned 2 a few months ago and recently she's been going into her room and shutting the door and wanting to play alone.... I know her room is safe so it doesn't bother me... Plus I have a baby monitor in there so I know what she's doing. But all she really does is watch tv and play with her toys... it's quite cute actually :)
2006-10-12 01:58:58 · answer #7 · answered by seren_dipity_3 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
My 3 year old son plays upstairs, but only when my daughter is up there with him (she's 9). It's a difficult one! Think it depends on the child and what they've got in their room!
2006-10-12 01:51:39 · answer #8 · answered by tattooedgray 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As long as there rooms are safe places for them to play then I don't see a problem. Perhaps consider baby monitors?
2006-10-12 01:47:21 · answer #9 · answered by kchick8080 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its perfectly safe if that what they both want, I would just check on them every once in a while (Like say every 5 minutes for the 3 yr old boy!!!)
2006-10-12 01:48:54 · answer #10 · answered by Nobody200 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋