In the mornings after we eat breakfast and play a little, Kate takes a nap and Vivian plays in her crib by herself. She really enjoys this time from what I can tell. I throw some toys and books in there with her, put on some music, and leave her to play for an hour. This is when I take my shower, make the bed, start laundry loads, etc. Honestly sometimes I feel guilty for leaving her alone for so long, but then I try to remind myself of how beneficial it is for her...learning to entertain herself, solve toy problems on her own, rest for a while. This is a great time of day for everyone at our house.
I guess when we take the crib out, we'll make it "room time." I have a feeling she will protest then, but I'm planning to push through so we can keep this independent play time.
If you're interested in doing this with your baby or toddler, ask me and I'll tell you how I started it...it was really easy! Some friends gave me advice about it and I'll be happy to share it, too :)