When children feel as if they are gaining skills and becoming self-sufficient, they grow more confident in their abilities. You will watch their self-esteem take off. Each year, every child should be able to point with pride to a new found skill or added responsibility that comes with age.
We can help our children grow independently and flourish by:
• Teaching our children to pick out their clothing, dress themselves as they grow older,tie their own shoes, pack school snacks, set their own alarm clocks instead of waking them up, and having children put away their books and organizing themselves.
• Allow a young child to complete puzzles and feed himself/herself on his/her own and as he/she grows, to do his home work and projects by himself. It is much healthier to tell a child that you will check his/her work when he is done instead of sitting beside him/her and correcting the answers as he/she goes along. Book reports and science projects should not be parent’s homework.
• Have your child help around the house and gain responsibilities instead of waiting to be served. Some skills children can help with are putting away laundry, setting and clearing the table, helping to serve guests, baking, cooking and keeping their room in order.