Young children depend on their parents and carers to feed them, care for them and keep them safe. However, as children grow up they want to become less dependent on others and more self-reliant. This is called independence and it is a great characteristic to encourage because it will help children to prepare for the demands of adulthood. To encourage your child to be more independent, here are some great tips from an independent school in Hampshire.

Step back

It is natural to feel a little rejected when your child suddenly wants to do more things alone, but try not to take this behaviour personally. Children naturally seek more independence as they grow up. Try to step back and let your son or daughter try new experiences alone. Allow your child the freedom to solve problems, make their own choices and take more risks. This will help to grow their confidence and teach them important life skills.

Give responsibilities

As your child begins to want more independence, try to support them by giving them more responsibilities. This could mean asking your child to help with some simple jobs around the house, such as cooking, cleaning or taking the dog for a walk. This will increase their feelings of competency and can help to improve your relationship.

Give choices

Allow your child make their own decisions by offering choices. For example, when you are out shopping for clothes with your child, select some outfits you are happy to buy and then let your child pick one. By offering your child choices, you can help them to feel empowered and show them that their opinions are valued.

Learn from mistakes

Another way to help your child become more independent is to teach them the benefits of having a ‘growth mind-set’. This is a method of positive thinking that will support your child through many challenges. Children with a growth mind-set believe that their abilities will improve over time and they also acknowledge that mistakes can be used as learning opportunities.

Establish a routine

A big part of being independent is making your own decisions. However, children often have trouble making decisions, especially if they don’t think sequentially. Parents can help to improve this by establishing a fixed routine. Once your child knows what needs to be done at a particular time, or in a particular order, they will feel more confident to get on with certain tasks alone.