Am I being mean to 3yo DD?

[RobinHobb]

I've been thinking about this for some time and I need some input from fellow mums. DD1 (3 years old) has recently given up her afternoon nap from 1pm to 3pm. DD2 (1 year old) naps from 1pm to 3pm also and this used to be a lovely oasis of peace during the day when I could get things done, have a cup of tea etc.
So DD1 started only napping once or twice a week, and so I would put her down for a nap anyway in her bed, with her toys and so on. Now she just plays in her bed with her books, toys, dolls for an hour to so, and I watch over the baby monitor. She's happy and is singing, talking to her baby doll, "reading" it a story etc.
I feel a bit mean that she is basically confined to her room for that time with no input from me. She's happy - there is absolute NO crying I would never just leave her in a room if she wasn't happy (the door is unlocked, but she can't quite turn the handle yet), but something still makes me feel bad.
DH says I am being super sensitive, that I should be happy that she is happy to do quiet time on her own, it is good discipline for her to learn to entertain herself for a while, and best of all - gives me a break during the day (DH is away during the work week so just me at home with the DC).
What are people's thoughts? I was thinking of giving her tablet to help her while away the time, but I don't like the idea of her having so much screen time during the day (we do 30 minutes of telly at night while I settle baby).
Thanks for reading!

I find it a bit odd putting a child to 'bed' when they don't actually want/need to sleep, especially shutting the door behind you, that they can't open themselves.
Playing quietly alone or reading books to themselves is great, can it not be done in the living room/kitchen or wherever whilst you're pottering about though?
I was glad when DS gave up napping I found it a total PITA working the days around it or face the backlash of whingeing if we were out and about/taking part in an activity around the time of said nap.

Does she really play happily by herself for 2 hours? That's incredible.

Well ... I remember having quiet time when I was nine or ten and we used to go and stay with my great-aunt ... we had to go and read on our beds for an hour in the middle of the day. So maybe not!*

• I am not an Edwardian, honest, this only happened for a week a year.

Learning to entertain herself for a bit is a fabulous skill. She may enjoy the time on her own. I certainly liked playing alone sometimes as a child.

The only thing I might do differently would be not to close the door if she is unable to open it herself. But I would definitely not give her a tablet.

I think you're being a bit precious. This is exactly what my mum did for me when I was that age - I had "quiet time". I didn't have to sleep, but I did have to lay down and just rest.

Sounds ideal. I worked with kids this age many years ago and we used to do a quiet time. I agree that most kids this age seem to need it to stop them getting too tired and over stimulated. Lots of people go on about young kids getting enough stimulation, but I suspect most are over stimulated, which makes them cranky.

And the issue with tablets is it reduces the ability of concentrate and to play independently. Both are important skills to develop.

Thank you - long may it continue!
To @agnurse who said I was being precious, yes I probably am. It's why I wanted to sense check it with other mums who know what I'm talking about.
To @BarbarianMum I've never stress test it to see how long she'll last! When she was in the process of dropping the nap sometimes she would fall asleep after an hour of playing and sometimes she wouldn't but I can't remember the last time she fell asleep during quiet time so the nap is definitely gone. I usually let her have at least an hour sometimes 75 minutes and she's happy afterwards. I'm really surprised she does because the rest of the day she is a typical needy toddler and super jealous of baby and so wanting attention a lot. But hey ho such are the joys.
Fingers crossed she keeps it up for some time! She's also knackered by bedtime and falls asleep straight away so that's good :-)