Seeing your children try to be independent can be exciting and heartwarming. They usually try to do so from an early stage, and that’s why you see babies trying to feed themselves with a spoon or older kids trying to reach to turn on the tap. During this stage in your child’s life, you must make an effort to help them become more independent by providing them with the assistance they need. According to a recent survey, 97% of parents use at least one approach to support their children as they grow more independent. Here are some practical ways to encourage self-reliance in your children.
1. Teach them how to do house chores
Teaching your kids to accept responsibilities like household tasks is a good way to start encouraging independence. It could be challenging at first, but showing them how to do it for a while will inspire them to do it alone. Doing this is a great and practical way to teach them to take responsibility, and it will also help boost their confidence that they make a difference in their little way.
2. Develop consistent routines
Fostering independence in your kids also involves establishing a reliable routine. Like adults, kids eventually adjust and are better prepared to take on duties when they can plan their day. You can help them build the habit of writing or journaling by recording what they intend to do for the day. It can be in short, simple phrases they can easily read out loud and understand. When you expose your kids to these patterns regularly, they begin to anticipate what will happen next and take on more responsibility while requiring less supervision.
3.Don’t forget to record special moments
Believe it or not, recording special moments in your kids’ lives is a great way to encourage their independence. Recording these memories will make it easier for your kids to visualise their growth and appreciate their progress. For instance, when your baby starts to walk, you can take some pictures and keep them in a baby record book to share the memories with them when they’re older. It will be a great opportunity to tell them a vivid story of how much they’ve grown and give them the push they need to aim for more.
4. Let your child choose
Providing options to your child is another method to encourage their independence. You can include them in daily activities such as picking what dress to wear. When they choose, remember to encourage them by congratulating them on their decision-making skills. Doing this makes them feel valued, and it’s easier for them to speak up. However, while giving your kids this freedom, you also need to set boundaries, so they don’t always insist on having their way. For instance, if they want to cross the road on their own, you should still accompany them. You can offer to hold their hand or carry them to keep them safe.
5.Allow them to fail
Failure doesn’t necessarily indicate that your kids did something wrong. Therefore, your feedback should not instil in your child a sense of guilt or wrongdoing if they don’t master a new skill or task immediately. Instead, it’s best to encourage them to try again. It would also help if you constantly reminded your kids that failure is part of life and an opportunity to try again. On the other hand, refrain from completing the activity for your child when they make mistakes to learn quickly.
As you consider the ideas mentioned above, keep in mind that each child is unique. While your youngster might be independent by age six, another might be by age ten. Your child will eventually learn how to complete tasks independently at each stage of life.
