Helping Your Child Become More Independent

All parents want to raise children who are able to do things themselves without relying too much on others for help, but it can be hard to watch them struggling with certain tasks. It’s vital though that they learn to problem-solve and realise what they’re capable of, which in turn boosts children’s self-esteem. Read on for some tips from an independent school in Buckingham on how you can help your child become more independent. 

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Encourage self-sufficiency

Give your child as many opportunities as possible to take responsibility for tasks like getting themselves washed and dressed, making their own breakfast and tidying their room at the end of the day. Although it’s our job as parents to look after our kids, that doesn’t mean attending to their every whim, especially when it comes to things they can actually do for themselves. Giving them responsibility will actually boost their confidence and help them learn what they can do. 

Let them make decisions

Allowing children to make choices appropriate for their age gives them a sense of control over their life and a feeling of independence. Of course, some decisions have to be made for young children, but allowing your child to make small decisions like what to wear or what piece of homework to do first will help them develop self-agency and learn to think for themselves. You can control the options you give them and make sure they’re not detrimental in any way, while simultaneously giving your child some autonomy. 

Nurture their personality

One way to help kids develop independence is to embrace who they are without trying to change them. It’s best not to define our children by their personality or characteristics, but rather let their identity unfurl naturally over time without inhibiting them in any way. This means forgetting about what we might like our kids to be or do and letting them find their own path in life (while of course supporting them all the way). We can inadvertently stifle our children’s spirit by trying to define them or steer them a certain way, but the best thing we can do is let them find out who they are without being held back by our preconceived notions of how they should be. 

It’s nice to know our children need us, but it’s our responsibility as parents to set them up for living independently of us so they’re not afraid to go out and conquer the world when we’re not around.