My 3 year old DD will not play by herself. I've tried rewarding her, getting her settled with something and then leaving the room. I've also tried just sitting in the room reading and letting her play but she insists I stop reading and play. She has always been like this.

Any ideas what else I can do? It's driving me batty I don't have any time to do anything except when she is watching TV at the start and end of the day. I also have a new baby now too.

my DD1 only really started properly playing by herself at age 2.5yrs ie 30 minutes of alone play. we didnt do anything though she just started to gradually from age 2. i think its temperament.

now she will play well alone i often just get her started by sitting down and playing dolls etc for 5 minutes then i quietly get up and go do something else ie look after DD2

I agree with the pp...it is temperment and different for all kids.

A close friends DD has only just started playing alone (and not for very long periods) at 3.5 while both my boys have always been good at entertaining themselves which is exactly like my DH and me.

Maybe you could challenge her to play alone for 2 minutes and then gradually increase the time every day.

Day care! It's the only solution and a sanity saver!! DS1 was like this and it was only when he reached about 4 that his imagination kicked in and he was able to keep himself occupied. Boy, was it a revelation when it happened!

For this reason, and the fact that I also had another baby, daycare was the only way I got some peace!!

For the record though, DS2 and DD1 have been able to keep themselves occupied forever! As pp's have said, its all to do with their temperaments. DS1 is particularly intelligent too, and was always trying to do things before his time. He has always preferred grown ups or older children as company too. The others are somewhat more 'normal' - LOL!!

I agree it is certainly in some childrens personalities to be more inclined to amuse themselves.
However, you may need to try and get toys that encourage her to do this or encourage make believe.

We bought my son the equivalent of a dolls house- but a fire station. It has little people, trucks etc and my youngest at 2.5 will play with this for ages.
Maybe also try and set up toys like at day care and rotate things, put some toys away for the day/week.

Set up a home corner, get out your pots and pans , spoons etc. It may also help to show her what she can do.
If money is not a struggle try and visit a really good toyshop and see what imagination inspiing toys are there