One of the greatest joys of our life is to see our little ones grow and explore the world. From the moment they’re born, you naturally find yourself helping your little bundle of joy in every way possible. However, once your child reaches the preschool stage, the time comes when you must nurture independence in them.
Encouraging your kids to do their tasks on their own not only builds their confidence but also sets the foundation of lifelong independence. Undoubtedly, the task is not as simple as we think. But as you know slow and steady wins the race; you can also foster independence in your preschooler overtime.
Let’s learn some interesting and practical strategies with which you can make your preschooler learn to do things on their own.
Encourage decision making: Everything begins from home. Start from allowing them to make simple decisions- be it selecting their clothes or choosing their snacks. It develops a sense of control in them and also teaches them about consequences. Also, taking decisions makes them feel valued and empowered.
Set a consistent routine: Setting a consistent daily schedule for tasks like getting up, brushing, bathing or going to school creates a sense of responsibility. Kids learn to stick to routines while managing their time independently.
Teach life skills: It’s true that for parents, their child is never a grown up. But, let your child learn age-appropriate tasks- setting up their table, putting laundry in the bag, arranging their school bags or putting dishes in the kitchen. These simple chores make them feel capable and instils a sense of accomplishment in them.
Encourage social interaction: Learning social skills leads to independence. Plan group activities for your kids with their peers. Allow them to get social. Let them learn to share, communicate and resolve conflicts. Expressing feelings freely develops self-reliance and confidence in your preschooler.
Celebrate efforts, not just results: No matter how things turn out, make it a point to cherish and rewards the efforts of your child at being independent. Whether they are eating all by themselves or trying to tie their shoes, praise them for their efforts. Teach them that it’s the trying that truly matters. With such efforts, you can boost self-confidence in them and inspire them to explore new things.
Encourage them to solve their problems: Whether struggling with a jigsaw puzzle or facing difficulty in identifying colours, let your preschooler handle these challenges on their own. Challenges are part of learning. So rather than stepping in immediately, give them time to think and analyse.
Remember, independence can be nurtured at any age. It’s all about giving the right environment to explore and make choices. Fostering independence is a lifelong journey that evolves as your children grow. Thus, Little Pearls always try to create an environment that encourages self-sufficiency.
We always emphasize on choice-based learning, allowing our students to choose their activities. Whether we should do the colouring or recite some rhymes, it’s always our children who take the decision. By making children engaged in activities like gardening, cooking or simple household tasks, we make them learn life’s valuable skills. And the smiles on their faces after accomplishing these tasks says it all about their confidence.
Little pearls also offer opportunities for play and group projects where children learn to navigate the challenges together and develop resilience. Our school environment is designed for self-exploration where our preschoolers can explore their interests, foster their creativity and independence in a supportive environment.
Little pearls believe that whether at home or school, every step towards independence is valuable; and so, we try to incorporate these small yet meaningful steps in their learning journey.
