Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Teaching Independent Play Skills: Infant
To teach an infant to play by herself:
- Look for times when your infant is playing quietly by
herself. Give her a lot of brief, nonverbal, physical
contact.
- Try to find an activity that you can do while you are
also providing your infant with brief, physical contact.
For example, you might read the paper or a magazine or
do paper work from the office.
- Learn to discipline yourself to provide the physical
contact while you are engaged in a productive activity.
- Over time, perhaps 2 to 4 weeks, gradually begin to
touch your infant less often during your activities.
The changes in frequency should be very small so that
your infant never notices them. Although you want to
decrease the number of times you touch your child while
she is engaged in an activity, do not stop the touching.
Just decrease it to more normal levels.
In this way your infant will have the enjoyment of playing
alone and affection from you during your activities.
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