Tips to encourage independent play from birth

[Southernbelle19]

Background - I have an eight year old who has always strugglesd to play independently. I was a single mum and she's an only child, and because of me juggling full time work and basically no family help, I admit I have relied quite heavily on screens (mainly tv) over the years. We do clubs in the evening and go out every day at the weekend, but when we are at home she will only play with her (many) toys if I sit and play with her, or if she has friends round. When I 'force' no screen time, she will choose drawing or even tidying her room over actual playing 😅

Anyway I feel I know where I have gone wrong here, like I said, relying too much on screens! I'm now pregnant with my second with my lovely partner. I want to encourage independent play from birth and avoid screens, especially as I now have a bit more support and won't be trying to parent and work from home at the same time. What are everyone's best tips to achieve this? Especially as we are not planning on having any more kids so this child won't have any siblings (of a similar age) to play with.

Also any tips for avoiding fussy eating would be welcomed, but maybe that would need another thread.

Thanks!

Not sure how you achieve independence from birth. Both of mine were pretty glued to me as newborns

There are some things you can do though.

We had a bouncy chair upstairs and downstairs so could plonk them into that whilst we had showers or went to the loo. They could still see us though.

Then when they're less newborn and more baby you can set up a treasure basket of things for them to explore.

Have a look at Montessori. You don't have to go really into it but it might have sine tips for independence

Ah I didn't mean independence from birth, but things I can do from birth or when they're a baby to encourage independent play at a later stage!

Thanks I will look into the montessori stuff :)