Do you want to raise strong, independent children capable of taking on the world? Well, most parents do. But it is easier said than done. Every parent wants their children to become independent, but their natural instincts to keep their kids protected at all stages get in the way. Parents put in their sweat to ensure their children are well taken care off, but it may make them more dependent on you for even the smallest things. Having said that, we are sure you would agree that becoming independent has become more crucial today than ever before.
With today’s complex, fast-changing, and demanding work, school, and social life requirements, parents cannot risk raising dependent children. If you want your children to make wise decisions for them and independently thrive in a competitive environment, you must make efforts to instill independence in them from a young age. To help ease the journey, we at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, ranked among the top CBSE schools in Gurgaon, have featured the five best strategies in this blog post that will help raise independent kids. Let’s quickly explore the strategies shared below.
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Let Them Make Mistakes
Many parents may find it counterintuitive, but letting children make mistakes can be the stepping stone to their independence. Instead of preventing children from making mistakes, make them understand that mistakes can be learning opportunities in disguise. Let kids experience the consequences of their mistakes, so they will learn faster. Mistakes, small or big, will make kids feel a certain discomfort/disappointment that they need to leverage to thrive in today’s society.
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Encourage Them to Participate in Age-Appropriate Jobs
As a parent, you might want to give your kids all the comfort in the world, but it is where you must stop and evaluate your decisions. Getting educated on an academic level is crucial for children, as is getting trained in other life areas. If you want your kids to become independent individuals, they must learn to perform age-appropriate chores from a young age.
The tasks don’t necessarily have to be big. For example, asking your teenage kid to help you cook dinner, clean the bedroom by the end of the day, keep the space organized, or get groceries from the market are some small yet impactful activities that can help them become independent early in life.
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Give Them Freedom (But Within Healthy Limits)
You cannot expect children to become independent when you’re making all of their decisions for them. Kids deserve freedom, but it should be healthy and age-appropriate. When kids are allowed to make choices for themselves, they feel empowered. Their self-confidence and self-esteem surge, helping them move towards independence. Parents can start by letting their kids choose their daily outfits, healthy breakfast options, study schedule, etc.
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Start Giving Them Space
It can be a bitter and hard pill to swallow, but parents must give children some space. It is crucial to help them learn and grow. When kids are given space, they start viewing their surroundings and environment as independent individuals, and their decision-making gets massively influenced. Parents must encourage self-reliance in children by giving them plenty of opportunities to explore the world without being supervised. You can start by letting them walk slightly ahead of you on sidewalks, play alone in the park, do DIY projects, etc.
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Don’t Over-Correct or Over-Protect Them
Children make mistakes and don’t always choose what’s in their best interest. But it shouldn’t trigger your over-protection or over-correction mode. Kids are poised to learn from their mistakes and improve their decision-making abilities over a period. If your kids have started exploring a new activity, don’t interrupt them. We at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, one of the top CBSE schools in Gurgaon, believe parents shouldn’t strive for perfection when their children are performing any activity independently. Give them suggestions to improve, but don’t over-correct them, which would otherwise hamper their self-confidence. Eventually, your children will learn to take responsibility and become independent.
Conclusion
At Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, we firmly believe that fostering a new skill or ability in children is a time-consuming process that deserves immense patience. If you want to raise independent children, remember a thumb rule: the more you do anything for them, the lesser opportunities they get to do things (and learn) for themselves. So stop taking charge of everything, and let children take the front seat. If you’re clueless about where to start, begin implementing the five strategies featured in this article.