Sittervising – a portmanteau of sitting and supervising – is a parenting “trend” that’s been gathering steam over the past few years.

The phrase was coined by Susie Allison, a former teacher and mum-of-three who runs the Busy Toddler. It refers to the act of “supervising [children] from a seated position”.

Sittervising might be more beneficial than you think

Allison said that sittervising is a “conscious decision” she’s made in her parenting and is “steeped in child development research, best practices, and a deep knowledge of pedagogy”.

The thought process is that adults interfere with, and change how, kids play. So by taking a step back and sitting somewhere else, while watching them from a safe distance, you’re helping them to boost their skills. She suggested these include: problem solving, risk management, communication skills, imagination, divergent thinking, and cooperation.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be playing with your kids at all – of course, not. As Allison wrote on her website: “Playing with kids is also a fantastic way to build a........

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