Promoting Independence
I know that you are all busy people, and sometimes it's easier to do things yourself instead of supporting your children to do them. It's quicker, less messy, and sometimes easier than asking them to do it. The question is: how are we ever going to get our children to become independent if we don't give them a chance to try?
We want our children to grow up into responsible, confident, resilient adults and, to do that, we need to give them the independence to build essential life skills. By allowing our children to make choices and take on responsibilities, they develop critical thinking and fine motor skills, e.g. how to dress themselves, do up and undo buttons, zips, buckles, etc. They also develop problem-solving skills: which jumper to wear, what to have in their sandwich, what toy to play with next.
It allows them to make mistakes, overcome small failures, and learn how to cope with setbacks. When children do something for themselves and of their own choice, it boosts their confidence and self-esteem and helps them to feel capable and confident in their own abilities. All of this is a step-by-step journey to becoming a self-sufficient adult.
I often hear parents saying that their child is too lazy and won’t do things for themselves, but now is the chance to put a stop to that. Start by allowing them to do small things for themselves with encouragement and praise. They will soon learn how good it feels to have independence and to try for themselves.
Our thought of the week is:
Independence is the power to live life by your own rules, providing the ability to shape your future.