As a parent, it can be difficult to watch your child grow up and no longer need you. However, it’s important for them to establish some independence whilst they’re still under your care so that when the time comes for them to move on and live without you, they will have all of the necessary skills.
Independence will also help them feel more confident at school and in other situations where you are not around to help them. So, how can you help your child become more independent? Here are some top tips from a prep school in Hertfordshire.
Give Them Space
It’s natural to feel like you want to step in and save the day every time you notice your child struggling with something, but it’s a good idea to take a step back and let them try and figure things out on their own sometimes. Allow them to make their own decisions and solve problems with little input from you. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with providing a little reassurance, but try to avoid taking over.
Give Them Responsibility
Why not take this one step further and actually give your child some tasks to do without you? Perhaps they could help you with some household chores, even something simple like laying the table for dinner or running the hoover round. Giving your child some responsibilities will increase their feelings of competency, which in turn, will boost their self-esteem. As a result, they will feel increasingly more comfortable attempting tasks without you.
Ask their Opinion
Show your child that you have faith in their ideas and opinions by asking them what they think. Offer them choices, rather than making decisions on their behalf. For instance, if you’re wondering what you should cook for dinner, ask your child what they would like. The idea is to encourage independent thinking and decision-making so that your child is confident in doing so when you are not with them to help.
*This is a collaborative post.
