Helping Your Child Become More Independent

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Independence is an integral part of a child’s understanding of their own skills, and gives them the time and space to develop their communication and own way of solving problems. It gives your child the freedom to do as they please in their own surroundings, and it takes the pressure off you to guide them through each stage in their life as well.

To help your child learn to be independent, here are some tips on ways you can motivate your child to handle things on their own from this independent school in Cheshire.

Give them their own ways of handling responsibility

There are a host of ways you can manage responsibility in your own children. For instance, have them take charge of certain tasks around the home. Make them personal to them at first – like giving them the responsibility of tidying their bedroom once a week and motivate them to keep on top of it. 

If you have a pet, even if it’s a hamster or something small, there is still a lot of care and attention involved. Having your child involved in those processes will give them the chance to take control of something that’s theirs.

Use chores

Chores may feel like a boring task for some kids, but it really does show your child that they can work independently if given the direction. Start with a range of tasks that they can pick up and manage without much supervision. Once they start getting used to these chores you can then move on to other tasks.

Ensure they are trained to solve problems

Using problem solving activities can start from when your child is a toddler. They will encounter a range of issues that mean they can handle different things that come their way and it will help them in their general development. 

If you’ve already been encouraging your child to solve problems, the transition to independence will be much easier. Show your child to handle problems in their own way and try not to jump in straight away to address any issues.

Show that you trust your child

Trust is incredibly valuable to a child’s relationship with you, so they’re going to be more inclined to complete tasks if you show that you are honest. Watch how they complete tasks in their own ways, and see how you can support their decisions that don’t impact their personal choices.