Starting off from climbing over the cot, your sweet baby is going to win and overcome many milestones and obstacles in life. As parents, it’s in your hands to strengthen them physically and mentally so they can go on to tackle the world. It is crucial to encourage them to build up personal competencies that would allow them to handle their own tasks by themselves when living in the society. Don’t forget… This should start right at the time when your little one starts climbing over the cot.
You are a real champ!
Once your little baby grows up to be able to stand on her own two feet, there’ll be countless trips and falls. In these instances, rather than running to her immediately to take her in your arms and pacify her, let her get up on her own.
‘There you go... good job! You can now get up on your own!’ Use language that encourages them. Some parents tend to always carry the children or keep them inside playpens because they are afraid that they would fall and get hurt. However, falling when they try to stand on their own really isn’t too dangerous. But it’s important to child-proof risky areas in your house. When you encourage them to get back up on their own, it also helps them to understand their own abilities.
Let them participate
When you are sweeping the house, your little one might show interest in doing the same, or when you are doing laundry, he too will want to wash clothes. In situations like these, refrain from saying things such as ‘Get aside! Let me wash it soon. You will catch a cold…’, or when sweeping ‘Move away, the dust will get all over you’. Instead, give him also a little broom. You can even cut up an old broom to your child’s size and give him to use. When washing clothes, give the child also a little handkerchief or a serviette to wash. If the child is at an age where he can wring the water out of washed clothes, let him do it. In this manner, if the child gets to participate in household tasks, he will learn the skills needed to be independent.
Let the children play
Back in the day, children were able to find the materials they need from their environment itself. Even now, this kind of play is really beneficial to your child. Buy them some toy pots and pans. Give them things that you discard from the kitchen, like grated coconut refuse and vegetable scraps. Not only the children learn from this but also are initiated into managing a house on their own one day.
Let them learn household work
Nowadays, parents don’t let children do things on their own, because they don’t want the house to get untidy. They think that it will turn into a messy disaster, adding to their work. But please consider that it is your own child who will be helpless if you do not give them the chance to be independent. Assigning house chores to kids between age 3 and 5 is a great preparation for their future.
You are not taking away their freedom by teaching them life skills
Lot of parents think that it is alright for the children to live leisurely now, because regardless of whether it’s a girl or a boy, once they grow up and build their own families, they are anyway going to be entirely occupied with their responsibilities. Although this is true, it is quite necessary that the children learn to do their own tasks independently. In no way does this mean that you are saving your child.
A preschooler who can wear socks on his own
It’s really no miracle children this age can wear their clothes and shoes on their own. It’s a result of the training you give them. Some children aren’t able to properly button up their shirts only because they haven’t practiced it before.
‘Why don’t you try doing your buttons on your own? I can always help you if you get it a little wrong.’ Letting them be in charge of little tasks in their day to day lives will naturally awaken their creative abilities. If a preschooler can tie his shoelace by himself, it really is a big achievement. Parents only need to provide them with supervision if needed.
Don’t yell when a child gets it wrong
If a child makes a mistake, correct it calmly. Do not blame the child in any way.
‘How many times do I have to tell you that this shoe goes on the other foot? I will spank you next time you get it wrong!’ Do not use language like this at any time, but explain to them kindly, or try a different way to help them remember. ‘The foot on the same side as the hand you use to eat rice goes in this shoe.’ You can even mark the shoe with a bit of nail polish to make it easier for your little one. Do not blame your child without even trying any alternatives ways to teach them.
Not control, but support
It's only love that makes parents control everything about our children because we always like to think that they are still very young. However, according to child psychologists, children only need support to complete tasks, not control. A study was conducted with the participation of one group of children who did everything under the control of their parents and another group who did things with the support of their parents. At the conclusion of the study, it was shown that the children who got support went on to be much more successful in life than the ones who were controlled.
Mommy’s little angel
A preschooler is really just a little darling who just hopped off mommy’s lap. Yet, don’t forget that this is the best time period to build up their independence. Their minds are light and without entanglements. This is why preschool age is the best platform to help them develop life skills to be able to do things alone. The children who get a good start at this age will successfully face the tasks they need to complete in school and day to day life.
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