Teaching Kids to be more Independent

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​Imagine how much easier life could be if your kids picked up after themselves, fixed their own snacks, packed their lunches, and pitched in around the house. Teaching them how to be independent won’t just make life easier for you however; it will also put them on the path toward becoming responsible citizens.
While it may take a bit longer for your child to do things independently, the benefits outweigh the risks. Check out these  tips for fostering your child’s independence.

• Decision Making.
  Children take a while to understand the concept of choices and making a decision that they think is best for them. By introducing choices early on in their life, children can start knowing themselves better and understand what truly makes them happy.
• Encourage risk-taking. 
  As a parent or caregiver, your number one job is to keep your children safe from harm. However, allowing healthy risk taking, can help your child develop critical thinking skills, confidence, and independence. Rather than throwing a fit when your child attempts to climb a tree or wants to make their way down the big slide, watch them closely and encourage them to continue. If you feel like your children might be in danger, coach them and offer safety tips rather than reprimanding them.
• Negotiate compromise.
  If she digs in her heels, compromise and inject some fun. For a few days, I took shirt duty, and she did the bottoms. I said that her tree branches (arms) needed their leaves (her shirt) and that she did a great job—and would also be awesome at putting on her own shirt.
• Invest Time Into Teaching.
  It’s easier to do most tasks yourself rather than teach your child how to do them. And it’s never easy to watch your child struggle to do something that you could easily step in and do yourself.
  But think about the time you spend teaching your child how to complete a task independently as an investment. When you put time into showing your child how to clean the kitchen or how to vacuum the living room now, you’ll spend less time doing those tasks yourself down the road.
• Give notice.
  Get your child on board by encouraging her to help “you” change. When Williams realized she was doing way more for her son than was necessary, she told him, “I’m sorry. I’ve been treating you like a little kid when you are ready to do some big-kid jobs!” She warns against using phrases like “You’re not a baby anymore”; baby can be a sensitive word in this age group.
• Assign them with responsibilities.
  Children as young as 2 years old are capable of being tasked with chores and responsibilities. These tasks can be as simple as putting away their toys to the tune of the “Clean Up Song,” feeding pets, or for older children, sweeping and mopping floors. Provide children with an opportunity to contribute to household tasks. A study by the University of Minnesota found that children who had been given chores beginning at ages 3 and 4 experienced more success as adults. Now that’s a skill that we can get behind!

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Kids can also benefit from interacting with others while learning new skills, or creating new social networks, like those at Forever Gymnastics! To learn more , click here.