Encouraging Independence

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Today's Life Skills Sunday post is focused on INDEPENDENCE.

Independence
The state or quality of being independent; freedom from dependence; exemption from reliance on, or control by, others; self-subsistence or maintenance; direction of one's own affairs without interference.

If we give too much independence at too early of an age our children may misuse it.
However, it we don't give them enough they will becoming overly dependent.

India Parenting suggests 4 steps to creating the right balance:

1. Take one step at a time

2. Don't be in a hurry

3. Watch

4. Help Your Child Make Lists

Resources

Read an article on Toddler Independence.

Search Warp suggests Teaching Children Independence by:

~Refuse to Step In

~Believe in Your Child

~Teach Life Skills Through Routines

~Let Children Experience Consequences

~Coach as They Learn

The Dicipline How to Blog has several posts devoted to Tips for Raising Independent Children at various age levels.

~Don't Do Everything for Your Child

~Teach Life Skills

~Teach Them to Prioritize

~Teach About Money

Parenting.com has age-by-age suggestions for raising independent children.

Parenting for Independence the Montessori Way

Suggestions

~Encourage "Free Play" in your home. Check out these suggestions on encouraging unstructured play.

~Put juice and snacks in plastic containers where your child can easily reach them.

~Allow your child to answer questions - avoid answering for them.

~Child proof your home so your child is free to explore.

~Offer opportunities for problem solvin

~Do not do things for your child that they could do for themselves.

~Install shelves at the child's level so they can put away their own books, toys, and clothes.

~Use words of encouragement instead of words of praise.

~Scholastic lists several ideas for encouraging independence in infants and toddlers.

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