6 ways to help make your child more independent

Jorma Duran
·2 min read
6 ways to help make your child more independent

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – It’s Parenting Connection Tuesday and 6 News is here for you with tips, strategies, and helpful reminders from child development experts on how we can be better parents and guardians.

Today’s topic: 6 ways to help make your child more independent.

Raising a kid who leads instead of follows is a goal for many parents, but not always easy to do. In fact, according to a recent poll by The C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, worry is the top reason parents give for their child not doing things more independently, so many moms and dads may be unintentionally restricting their child’s path to independence.

Growth development experts say elementary school years are an important time for children to develop their independence, and it starts with parental direction. According to an article on Parents.com… experts say, kids need to be taught how to learn the skills necessary to function in the world on their own, and it will take some time and effort, but the rewards will be worth it. So, here are 6 things you can do to help make your child more independent:

  • Let them make mistakes. Experts say, letting kids make mistakes and learn from them will teach them how to succeed in life.

  • Involve and trust them with an important household task. This can be as simple as putting away a bag or two of groceries, or folding their laundry.

  • Offer them choices. This means, let your child be the decider on simple things, like what shirt he or she wants to wear to school.

  • Give them space. Experts say, to try to find at least one way every day where your child can accomplish something “on their own” without your help.

  • Avoid over-correcting. Kids will give up if you make them feel they aren’t doing it up to your standards.

  • Promote Independent free play. Experts say this will help foster creativity, problem-solving, and autonomy.

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