each one of my alters were what is called here categorical (the dsm calls it distinct) which means they had their own jobs, purposes, reasons for being.. some of those jobs, purposes reasons for being was to to work, draw, sculpt, paint, what ever...

but that was when they were in control of my body not when I was in control and they were like somewhere inside my head doing things like playing, painting , drawing..

when I was in control either the alters were listening/watching or their experience was no time had passed. kind of like where did I go, what did I do when an alter took control nothing. it was like im typing on the computer and then the next second I was at work. if the alters were not listening /watching to them it was one second they were eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich and the next they were walking in down town.

I do know some people with internal systems where the host can imagine "safe rooms" for their very small alters. Usually at the suggestion of a therapist who teaches the host how to close their eyes and visualize a room that would be safe for the younger alters so they can go into their safe room when the host is talking about hard stuff. this is usually when the small ones are co conscious and get triggered by hard stuff. the younger ones listen to the host and therapist using visualization to create this safe room. so the little ones also learn how to use visualization/imagination to go play in the safe room during hard stuff.

but me and my internal system no there was no such thing as playing inside while I dealt with the hard stuff. either they were listening/watching or there was nothing just one second doing this while in control and then the next second back in control doing something different.