Independent Child?

Bethany - posted on 04/24/2010

Charlotte has always been content to muck about on her own. She likes to look through her books, and play with the peg dolls in her doll house, or pull all her blocks out of the wagon and put them back in or if we're outside, she'll be content with the peg bag or the gravel on the path. She can look through her books and make the animal noises and say some of the colours now, which is cute to watch. I videoed her looking at a book for about half an hour the other day,( I didn't video her for that long though, I had dinner to cook) through about 4 different positions and rooms, she looked at that book. "Little Miss Wise" book no less.



After about 2 or 3 hrs in the morning, she comes to me and wants up, and sometimes sits and sways and sings to herself and I put her to bed for her nap. She has cups of water about the place so helps herself, and can sign water and milk and biscuit for if she's hungry or thirsty.



I've lied down on my bed before, when I was hit with a mid afternoon fatigue, and actually fallen asleep and she's started out down beside the bed, but ended up out in the lounge looking at her books.



I, too, spend many afternoons lounging on the couch looking at a magazine, while she plays with her crayons, or lego or whatever.



After about 3.30pm, though, she wants me to play with her, and I usually go for a walk with her in her pram, or go and get the washing in and play with the dog or go out the front and do some gardening, until nearly dinner time, then it's into the evening routine.



I love it. She's such a nice kid to have around. I have friends with some really high energy, kids that just keep them on their toes all day. Though you do get used to it, and when she does have a teething day or two, I'm exhausted with the attention I need to give, even though she's probably only coming up to standard, and we end up going out to the shopping centre, and she likes that, and so do I. It's clean and I didn't clean it, and the coffee's usually good, and I didn't make it.



I'm too scared to have another kid, they'll be all ratty and naughty and high needs and I'll always regret not just being happy with my lovely little girl.

Noelle - posted on 04/08/2010

my daughter has always been very independent. she prefers to spend time by herself exploring her surroundings and looking at everything. she usually has a time each day when she will actively play with me, my husband, or my mother, who babysits while we are at work. it almost seems as though she spends her whole day learning things and then, at the end of the day, wants to sit down and show us everything she learned. we keep her toys and play things in our living room mostly, although she has relative freedom to roam and explore.
the only time she becomes very clingy is at night time before bath. since she was 3 weeks old, we have had a very established bedtime routine. around 6:30, lights go down, toys get put away, TV or music gets turned down. around 7 bathtime. 7:30 PJ's and quite play time. 7:45ish snack. brush teeth, cuddle, then bed. around 6 every night, my daughter gets very clingy and sometimes whiney. as soon as she gets in the bath, it is a completely different story. she laughs and explores and splashes with us; the only time when she is truly focused on the adults in her life.
so, to answer your question, yes, my daughter is very independent, but she also is very loving and tender and connected with us. don't me worried if your child doesn't pay as much attention to you as you'd like. it's all a part of them becoming the amazing little person they are already so close to becoming!

Dawn - posted on 04/08/2010

It is half and half with my son. In fact this week he has stopped letting me read his books to him, he would rather look through them himself. He has access to his room from the hall that connects the livingroom/diningroom so he has a lot of freedom to go where he pleases....most times it is in his room alone playing. I like the benefits!! Sometimes I will lay on the couch in the afternoons and get some rest; he will come over every once in a while to check on me or give me a toy!! I really enjoy this :) Come evening time he gets more clingy and will play toys with me (our fav is for me to build beautiful block towers that he topples!) Ever since he started getting mobile, around 5 months old, he started being independant and would barely let me hold him unless he was cranky. I have noticed he is getting a little more lovey lately and will hug and kiss me more but he prefers to wrestle then get all loved up!!!! Enjoy those moments you do get!!!