8 Ways to Encourage Your Child’s Independence

Today’s families are swamped with so many commitments they’re left feeling stretched to the limit and totally overscheduled. It’s a nonstop balancing act to keep home, family, and work in check. That’s usually because the majority of these obligations fall solely on the parent(s). Exasperated, we search high and low for ways to lighten the load, often overlooking our most valuable asset—our family.

Encouraging independence in your children can lessen some of the burdens you carry to get it all done each day. Let's look at some ways you can explore and adopt a more independent lifestyle for your family.

#1 - Start Early

Although kids crave structure and boundaries, they also love and need to exert their independence. Starting when your child is a toddler, even if they're just learning language skills. You can let your child make decisions like choosing what color cup they want to drink their juice from or which shirt they want to wear to daycare. Everyday tasks are also opportunities to encourage independence. Let your child decide on cereal or eggs for breakfast, or pick the book to read for story time. She can help you choose the best apples in the grocery store, or be in charge of throwing away wrappers after snack time on the playground. Letting your young child make decisions and tackle age-appropriate tasks fosters his budding independence, teaches responsibility, and can even build problem-solving skills. 

Letting your young child make decisions and tackle age-appropriate tasks fosters his budding independence, teaches responsibility, and can even build problem-solving skills.

Pro Tip: Keep in mind that younger children need more time to implement their new decision-making skills. Give yourself an extra ten minutes or so when allowing her to do things like dress herself or brush her own teeth. You’ll be more relaxed and more apt to let her work on some of these independent skills when you’re not harried and feeling rushed because it’s taking her an eternity to decide which pair of leggings to match with her hair bow.

#2 - Let Them Take Charge

As busy parents, we simply can’t do it all. Nor should we have to! Especially when we have family members who can lend a helping hand.

In my experience raising eight kids, one of the most tedious and overwhelming tasks in our household is laundry. As soon as my kids were capable, I started enlisting their help in keeping track of their own...

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