Think of how easier your life could be as a parent if your child is responsible and mature enough to fix his own things, clean his room, and pick up his mess whenever he litters all around the house. Imagining it could be satisfying, right?
Children, as young as they are, need to learn how to stand on their own feet without your guidance. To most parents, giving their child independence at an early age could be a no-no, but it is actually one attitude that is teachable to your children that might also help you out.
Teaching children how to be independent does not mean teaching them how to be apart from you. Independence will help your child make their own decisions and a path that will lead to a more responsible version of themselves.
However, raising an independent child can be tough, knowing that children still mind about other things like playing. Luckily, there are tips and guides that parents can follow for them to raise their children as responsible and independent individuals in the future.
Tip #1: Set expectations that are achievable for their age.
Children like to reach and aim for their parent's expectations as long as they know what these expectations are and are crystal clear for them. However, don't expect too much from them. Having too much expectations from your child will give them reasons to give up especially when they see that they are always failing.
Always set expectations that are close to reality and that you know they can achieve it on their own. Make your expectations as clear as possible for them to understand why they should do it. Work on them with little pressure but not too much to scare them off.
Tip #2: Always make time for them to teach them how to be independent.
As a parent, you should be the role model that your child can look up to. If you want your children to be independent, you should show the aspects and capabilities of yourself that instill independence. However, for most parents, they would always think that it would be easier if they just do everything instead of teaching their child how to do it.
You can allocate a time where you can teach your child how to do a simple task and teach them another one next time. Think of the time you use in teaching them as an investment rather than a liability because once they know how to do tasks all by themselves, your life can be easier.
Tip # 3: Make an effective routine
One way of teaching your children independence and at the same time teach them how to do household tasks is setting up a daily routine for them. A good routine helps everything stay in place while teaching your child not only to be independent but also to follow an organized flow of activities. Establishing a clear routine can also help your child what to do next on the list.
Tip #4: Make a chart
For younger children, it would be hard for you to simply say "clean your room" or "get ready for school" since their attention span is too short. To make it more fun and memorable for them, you can always set up a chart that has all their routines and activities.
With a visual presentation, they can easily understand what are the things they should do next. Make a chart that has all the steps and in no time you will then notice that your child becomes more and more independent each day.
Tip #5: Mold their behavior
Always show your children what to do when something wrong happens. If you can, guide them in each step of the way. Mold them with the right behavior and give them positive feedback and praise when they do a good deed. Take it all one step at a time and avoid putting pressure on them.
