Blanket time is a helpful tool to help you teach your child to respect boundaries. It can be a nice quiet time that is structured each day.
As you read through the various -wise books, it is very easy to miss the information on blanket time. I missed it the first couple of times I read through Toddlerwise, and then I had a hard time finding information on it when I knew about it and tried to find it.
Blanket Time Defined
Blanket time is a Babywise series principle to help children learn boundaries. In On Becoming Toddlerwise, blanket time is mentioned on pages 45 and 48. Page 45 says for toddlers between ages 14-18 months to do time on a blanket 2-3 times a week for 10-15 minutes at a time.
The purpose of this is to teach parameter skills. Page 48 says for toddlers between ages 14-20 months old, starting with 5 minutes at a time each day. You then work up to 30 minutes or longer.
Blanket time is similar to independent play time, but your child isn’t alone; you are right there. You can interact with your child if you like. You can give instruction to your child. You could have all of your children do blanket time together in the same room. Your child is doing it all on the blanket–an obvious boundary.
You want to make sure your child is on a blanket or mat of some sort. You do not want your child in a playpen with a literal boundary. You want the boundary to be seen but not literally keeping baby back. This is not playpen time nor independent playtime. The child is in the room with other people.
Blanket Time Benefits
There are many benefits to Blanket Time, including:
- Having a tool to keep a child in place
- Teaching a child self-control
- Teaching children to learn to recognize boundaries
- Testing obedience. Blanket time is great obedience training
Think of your little one sitting on a blanket playing while you finish up dinner. Picture how much easier church would be with blanket time as an available tool. Imagine visiting great-grandma and being able to put baby down and know she won’t zip off and break some family heirloom.
Think of going outside with your child and having a spot you know he would stay. Soccer games can be so much easier when your child is staying on a blanket through the game. How much easier would appointments be with this tool at hand? I know this is a tool very loved by homeschooling families. There are many benefits and uses in a homeschooling environment.
Real Mom Reviews
One mom said: “I think it’s an awesome tool and teaches skills that they don’t learn with roomtime only (staying within boundaries that are not as defined as walls). My little girl is so busy and runs around the house constantly, from one activity to the next. Surprisingly, she LOVES blanket time and I think it is because she can actually focus on a couple toys. One tip I would have is to use a kitchen timer – both for her sake and mine (so I don’t forget to get her off in good time). Also, use special toys that aren’t available at other times of the day. “
Another mom said: “If you don’t do blanket time, you should. Our kids are older now, but we still talk about how great it was. One time we were in a business and had our young son with us. He was fascinated by everything to get into. I pointed out the edges of a rug to him and told him to stay on the rug. He did! Everyone else was amazed.”
Another mom shared: “I agree its very helpful with recognizing boundaries! My current 2yo does it while we the rest of us are prepping breakfast and doing chores. Her mat is on the kitchen floor. I have one activity that we use for awhile until she tires of it (a week or 2). Currently she has her dollhouse out.”
Blanket Time in Action
You can start blanket time at any age. You can stop it before your baby can move and simply establish an expectation that the child stays on the blanket. The age you start it would really depend on you and your child.
You can put a completely immobile 8 month old on a blanket to play, but if he can’t move anywhere it isn’t true blanket time. That doesn’t mean you can’t start doing it–it can be useful to teach the habit before he has the option of moving, but he isn’t exercising any sort of personal restraint by staying on the blanket when he couldn’t move off of it in the first place.
You can do blanket time from a few months old on up to a 3 year old. You can really use the concept at any age you need it. There might be times you find you use the concept with your older children.
Start with 3-5 minutes at a time and work up from there. Show your child the border of the blanket and tell him to stay on the blanket. If (or probably when) your little one gets off the blanket, put your child back on the blanket and repeat to your child to stay on the blanket.
Use a timer to help track the time. Then the timer decides when blanket time is over and not your child’s whining.
Have a fun toy or activity for your child to do on the blanket. Do not load the blanket with toys. That will overwhelm your child. You can fun activities for your child on the blanket. You could add a book or two, also. Make sure the toys or books used for blanket time are used only for blanket time so they are novel. Rotate toys every so often.
Ultimately, here is my take on blanket time. Take blanket time and make it what you see your toddler in need of. Does your toddler need help learning boundaries? Does he lack some focusing skills? Do you have a need for blanket time in situations such as church? Use blanket time as needed in your home.
I like the use of blanket time as a time to teach parameter skills. I consider it a structured playtime situation. Again, use blanket time as you see fit for your child and your family’s situation.