Every parent wants to raise children that are independent, free-thinking, and know what they want and figure out how to obtain it. However, raising independent children is a challenge itself – especially because parents feel the need to resist the urge of helping them. Children learn more about life as they grow up and each growth stage has its charm. But, it also has challenges and obstacles that parents need to overcome.
Being a parent is one of the most wonderful things. It comes with happiness, pride and the encouragement to be the best version of yourself. But at the same time, being a parent is one of the most challenging things.
So, how do you help your children become more independent? We have summarized seven ways to do this.
1. Show Your Child How to Do Things
One of the most pressing and challenging tasks as a parent, is to resist the urge of helping your children and doing things for them. Sometimes it’s as small as helping your children get dressed or tie their shoe laces. In some moments, it may indeed be easier and faster to do these things yourself.
But take a moment and stop to ask yourself – How will this help my child become independent? I did this myself and became more aware of the fact that I was indeed helping myself more than my child. Yes, there were moments when we needed to hurry. But taking more time and letting my children do these things by themselves (for example, tie their shoe laces) did encourage them to become more independent.
The beginning might seem difficult, but if you show your children how to do things and stand beside them to support them, you help them become more independent. It may not seem much, but it is a good start towards becoming independent according to BrillAssignment.
2. Start as Early as Possible
As a parent, you often ask yourself, when it’s the best time to start helping your children become more independent? And while many parents are looking for the perfect time to do this, they put it aside. I have discovered that there is no perfect timing to do this and that you need to start as early as possible.
Many believe that when children are babies or toddlers, they don’t understand what is happening around them. Even though they’re in a growth process and learning to understand everything happening, their brains are ready to take on many challenges. This is because they get born with the ability to learn everything, including foreign languages.
So, don’t let yourself be fooled that your toddler has not started speaking yet. They can understand what you are teaching them, even though they can’t verbalize it yet. Start to help your children become more independent as early as possible.
3. Encourage Them to Take Charge
One thing that most parents feel at some point, is the constant overwhelming feeling that you do not have enough time for everything. You need to have a job and work, take care of the house chores, but also give your children the attention they need to develop a healthy life. It’s a deep desire of many parents to raise independent children.
And to do this, you can encourage them to take charge. As soon as they are old enough, start encouraging them to fold the laundry, collect scattered toys, or help you with cooking. These activities will boost the self-esteem of your children and will teach them that with hard work, they can do things they thought they were not capable of.
4. Love
Some of the necessary ingredients for raising independent children is love, patience, and respect. Children spend the majority of their time with you. They see you as a role model and they learn a lot of things from you, just by seeing you doing them.
Therefore it’s important to treat them with the love, patience, and respect they deserve. This will teach them to treat others the same.
5. Trust
Another essential ingredient for raising independent children is trust. If children feel that you trust them, they will be more engaged and encouraged to do things on their own. For example, if your child is helping you with the house chores, always acknowledge their progress. Let them know that you are proud of them.
6. A Healthy Perspective on Mistakes
One of the things that many parents do wrong is not letting their children learn from their mistakes. Yes, as a parent you want the best for your child. You want to protect them from all the harm they could suffer. All because you simply do not want to see your children suffering.
At the same time, trying at all costs to keep them away from these experiences will not do any good. Any research paper writing service would say that children need to learn a healthy perspective on mistakes. Mistakes are a human experience and everyone does them. It is important to learn something from your mistakes, and this is something you should teach your children.
7. Life Skills
Every growth stage has its charm. So, you need to teach your children life skills as they grow up. These will be of huge help when they will turn into adults. Help your children learn how to save money or manage what they have already saved.
Help them understand the importance of time and how to manage it efficiently. Even though these might seem complex, as soon as you teach your children to do this, the more they will benefit from them.
Conclusion
Parents want the best for their children. Which is a natural feeling every parent has. But it can be the feeling that prevents them from raising independent children. It is essential to support the independence of your child by showing them how to do things and encourage them to take charge. Trust your children and treat them with love, patience, and respect.
About the Author:
Jessica Chapman is an incredible essay writer. She collaborates with a research paper writing service on parenting topics. She is active in sport and politics, enjoys traveling, and has two children.