I've mentioned a few times about Carter's "solo time", where he is expected to play in his room with a gate up for around 30-45 mins. He loves this time and has been trained since a baby to be isolated and to play for a certain amount of time... it started with playpen time, then as he grew older, turned to "room time".
SO, now it's Everett's turn! He's reached that super-stage of separation anxiety, sarcasm thickly iced here as I say how wonderful this stage is. This is a developmental stage starting around eight months (shabang, right on mark, son!) the little one starts to realize when Mommy leaves the room. They can't quite comprehend that she will come back and therefore decide to cry, yell, or scream until she returns. Everett's not quite to that point--well, the yelling is occasionally there, so never mind. I started playpen time with Carter at the same age and it was truly successful. It took a week or so to get him up to 20-30 mins without crying. Everett lasted 10 yesterday and 20 today. Not too bad.
It may sound cruel to lock a kid in a pen and label it "Solo time", so for you saps, I would like to outline the benefits (besides the obvious which is a break for MOM!):
"Planned daily playpen times allow a little one the opportunity to develop:
-a-Mental focusing skills (the ability to concentrate on an object or activity at hand and not be constantly distracted)
-b-A suststained attention span
-c-Creativity (Creativity is the product of boundaries, not freedom. Without absolute freedom, there is no need for creative thinking or problem solving)*NOTE on that definition, WILL definitely be posting on that later!
-d-The ability to entertain himself or herself
-e-Orderliness"
Now, I strongly believe that there are even more benefits to this. I think as humans we are built to need solo time daily. I know without at least 15 minutes a day I can go crazy, and the same goes for children, although they don't have the words or discernment to be able to tell you that, in fact, their behavior is quite the opposite: clingy, whiny, needy, etc... which makes the parent feel like they need them more, when in fact, all they need is some time away. Sometimes when Carter is overly whiny or clingy, I direct him to solo time. His nature at that point is to protest and be upset, but after some one-on-one time with him in his room, I start the timer and leave. Most cases he ends up chatting up a storm, reading, and even resting a bit. He truly loves it. Everett reaching his 20 min-cap today:
SO, now it's Everett's turn! He's reached that super-stage of separation anxiety, sarcasm thickly iced here as I say how wonderful this stage is. This is a developmental stage starting around eight months (shabang, right on mark, son!) the little one starts to realize when Mommy leaves the room. They can't quite comprehend that she will come back and therefore decide to cry, yell, or scream until she returns. Everett's not quite to that point--well, the yelling is occasionally there, so never mind. I started playpen time with Carter at the same age and it was truly successful. It took a week or so to get him up to 20-30 mins without crying. Everett lasted 10 yesterday and 20 today. Not too bad.
It may sound cruel to lock a kid in a pen and label it "Solo time", so for you saps, I would like to outline the benefits (besides the obvious which is a break for MOM!):
"Planned daily playpen times allow a little one the opportunity to develop:
-a-Mental focusing skills (the ability to concentrate on an object or activity at hand and not be constantly distracted)
-b-A suststained attention span
-c-Creativity (Creativity is the product of boundaries, not freedom. Without absolute freedom, there is no need for creative thinking or problem solving)*NOTE on that definition, WILL definitely be posting on that later!
-d-The ability to entertain himself or herself
-e-Orderliness"
Now, I strongly believe that there are even more benefits to this. I think as humans we are built to need solo time daily. I know without at least 15 minutes a day I can go crazy, and the same goes for children, although they don't have the words or discernment to be able to tell you that, in fact, their behavior is quite the opposite: clingy, whiny, needy, etc... which makes the parent feel like they need them more, when in fact, all they need is some time away. Sometimes when Carter is overly whiny or clingy, I direct him to solo time. His nature at that point is to protest and be upset, but after some one-on-one time with him in his room, I start the timer and leave. Most cases he ends up chatting up a storm, reading, and even resting a bit. He truly loves it. Everett reaching his 20 min-cap today:
Of course you are still very easy and fun. This month you have been very busy. We did two road trips, in which you shared a room with your brother for the first time (well, you did when you were a newborn, but that was more of a "studio", so we're not counting that). You talked to him and screeched with him for a few minutes until you both fell asleep. It was so sweet. You also both slept all night together. I though for sure things would be different, but you made your parents proud! 
