10 Simple Strategies to Support Independence in Young Children: Tips for Confident Parenting
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Do you want to raise confident kids? Check out this reframe below:
Taking good care of my child means doing things FOR them.
Taking good care of my child means finding ways to support them in doing things for themself.
Rather than doing everything your child needs for them, reframe your thinking to ask yourself how you can support your child in doing it for themself.
Children want to be active participants in their own lives. When they have a sense of agency, they are more cooperative and parenting becomes easier. They learn important life skills, independence and gain confidence.
You can make many simple switches in your home to support your child’s independence. There are many things you can do to set them up for success.
Here are a few examples:
Some more examples:
Have a sturdy stool available for your child to drag up to the sink or to turn on or off the lights.
Put diapers and wipes down low so that when it is time for a diaper change, your toddler can bring the supplies needed for a change.
Place toddler-safe cups in a low drawer so that your young child can get a drink when thirsty.
Hang some low hooks in the coat closet so they can hang their own things
Put out a simple invitation to play on a child-sized table
Notice the things they do independently and point it out frequently
Phrases to Say on Repeat:
“You did that yourself.”
“That was tricky and you figured it out.”
“Your face was messy and now it's clean.”
“You were thirsty and you knew how to help yourself.”
You do not need to overhaul your parenting. Instead, try making small changes that feel sustainable to you.
There are lots of tools that you can put in your home to set your young child up for the opportunity to help him or herself.
Don’t feel you need to run out and buy new things. They can almost always be found on local swap groups or second-hand stores.
Here is a list of items we love for supporting your child’s growing independence at home.
Clothing Hooks / Potty Seat / Faucet Extender / Plastic Knives / Unbreakable Mirror / Turtle Nightlight / Table and Chair Set / Light Switch Extender / Crinkle Cutter / Stepstool / Left and Right Stickers / Metal Pitcher / Coat and Shoe Rack / Chore Chart / Wooden Knife / Metal Cup Set / Kitchen Helper Stepstool
These are affiliate links, which means I get a small kickback from the brands listed when you purchase an item from my link. Thanks for supporting The Workspace for Children! -Lizzie
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If you want to create a home that is filled with play and creativity, the key is to let your child know how much you value the time and effort they spent playing.