Child independence is one of the most important values kids should learn from their parents. From their experiences of doing things on their own, they will also learn to become responsible for their actions and reactions to what's happening around them. They will understand the concept of making the right choices that will equip them with skills, knowledge, and values they will carry into their adult life.
Parents may nudge their kids to discover their independence by doing these basic things below every day:
1. Assign chores around the house.
Give the kids age-appropriate chores around the house that will challenge them to accomplish something to benefit the whole family. Chores are their basic lessons for learning responsibilities that will help them understand setting goals, managing their time, and committing to their tasks, which are all necessary skills when they have bigger responsibilities as adults.
Expert Dr. Adiaha Franklin of the Baylor College of Medicine said that plenty of scientific evidence proves that chores given to children at an early age will help them adapt better as adults.
However, parents need to ensure they are not micro-managing how their kids complete their chores. Give them time to get the hang of it or learn the process. Children will become more cooperative about doing their tasks without a parent hovering or nagging them.
2. Establish a morning routine.
In some families, kids follow a morning routine so that going to school becomes a smooth process. Parenting authors Ellen Galinsky and Judy David via Bright Horizons said that these morning routines would show the parents which child may be struggling to keep up and thus will need more guidance, but this is also a chance for the children to assert their independence.
If a kid is struggling, the experts said that parents might add an extra 10 to 15 minutes in the morning routines, so there is no need to rush the child. They may insist on doing some of the preparations at night, such as preparing their clothes and bags for school. Parents should offer encouragement frequently so the child that often dawdles won't make the rest of the family late for the day.
3. Allow them to experience the consequences.
Real-life situations as adults have natural consequences, and your child has to experience the effects of their small mistakes while they are still young. Resist the urge to come to their rescue or pick up the pieces unless they try to correct and resolve this first.
According to Simply Family Magazine, this situation will make kids see and feel that their parents trust them to make the choices. If they make the wrong ones, they will understand how their decisions will impact them or those around them.
This will also help children learn resilience and better understand themselves, building on their emotional maturity.
