A young mom told me that when she doesn’t play with her daughter at the playground, other parents get judgy. So here are some thoughts on on resisting that judgment. Of course I'm not talking about toddlers and little kids and sure, if you *want* to play with them sometimes, have at it. But on the whole, it's really great for everyone if you give kids some independence. If that makes you feel nervous, try it with a friend and their kid at first—and enjoy that time hanging out with *your* friend.