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Part 7 – Help Your Child Build Independence

Help your child build independence.

Help your child build independence – Part 7

How parents can help their children build independence:

  • Encourage decision-making: Encourage your child to make decisions, even small ones, to help them build confidence and independence. For example, let them choose what to wear or what snack to pack for school.
  • Foster responsibility: Assign age-appropriate chores to your child, such as setting the table or feeding the pets. This helps them learn to take responsibility for their actions and develop self-sufficiency.
  • Let them problem-solve: Instead of always solving problems for your child, encourage them to come up with their own solutions. This can help them build problem-solving skills and learn to think critically.
  • Teach life skills: Teach your child practical life skills, such as cooking, cleaning, and managing money. These skills will help them become more self-sufficient and independent in their adult lives.
  • Provide opportunities for independence: Give your child opportunities to be independent, such as allowing them to walk to school or run errands on their own. This helps them develop a sense of self-reliance and confidence.
  • Encourage risk-taking: Encourage your child to take healthy risks, such as trying a new activity or making new friends. This helps them develop resilience and a growth mindset.
  • Be a guide, not a fixer: Instead of always fixing your child’s problems for them, be a guide and help them work through challenges. This helps them develop problem-solving skills and a sense of independence.

By following these tips, parents can help their children build independence and develop important life skills that will serve them well in the future.

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About the Author: Yvonne Wonder

As the founder and managing director of Destination Sitters, LLC, a national hotel and event babysitting service, and the mother of two children, I strongly believe that family comes first. I personally needed babysitting when I moved to San Diego 14 years ago. Like most parents, I assumed there were standards for temporary babysitting; in reality, there are no state standards or licensing requirements for temporary babysitting. The idea for Destination Sitters was born! I wanted to Give Parents Peace of Mind® when traveling with their children, so I created strict screening requirements for the sitters we refer. There is nothing like the peace of mind that comes from getting great professional help to care for your children, especially when traveling away from home. I and my partners, along with our office staff, have that one goal in mind with everything we do. Through the years of working with children, I have been inspired to write three books, and this blog for parents’ and children’s wellbeing. I believe the best way to teach a child is leading by example, with love, honesty, integrity, compassion, perseverance, and personal responsibility. Learning these values and teaching children that all women and men are equal will encourage them to dream big to be anything they want to be! An entrepreneur for over 35 years, I previously spent years running a construction and design company with two offices in California and built million-dollar estates and remodeled existing ones. For three and half years, I was one of the primary designers on HGTV’s Curb Appeal. I have also been published in books, magazines and newspapers, and have been a featured designer in multiple showcase houses.

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