Have you noticed that all babies and young children tend to ‘want to do things by themselves?’ This tendency is the beginning of independence and, as a parent, it is really important for you to encourage this. Here’s why.
Independence is important because…
- It promotes confidence and self-esteem as well as motivation and perseverance in school.
- It fosters self-reliance, allowing your child to feel they have control over their life.
- It gives your child a sense of importance and belonging which is essential for building social relationships and for contributing to the world.
- It develops their levels of self-awareness and sensitivity towards others which teaches them to help those around them.
- It teaches them self-motivation as they have the freedom to find their own reasons to achieve.
- It provides them with the belief that they are competent and capable of taking care of themselves which makes them resilient to external challenges.
- It allows them to become good decision-makers as they have the freedom to consider various options before choosing the one they feel is best.
- It develops other vital qualities such as patience, concentration, self-help, cooperation, self-discipline and self-trust.
- It gives them the freedom to experience life fully and learn its many important lessons.
- It makes them happy and healthy as they feel a great sense of achievement and success as a direct result of their own actions.
Find out Why it is Essential to Encourage a Growth Mindset in Your Children!
Giving ‘our little people’ the gift of independence lets them know that we value them so that they grow up with a strong sense of self-belief that they can do anything they put their mind to. Not only does this help our children grow and develop, but it also fosters them to be confident and competent communicators, curious and resilient explorers, and creative thinkers.
Start to encourage independence
You may not want your little ones to grow up too quickly but independence is something they need to learn. If they don’t, then they may react with anger and resistance, suffer from feelings of abandonment, and develop a seemingly indifferent attitude.
The last thing we want for our children is for them to feel insecure and be vulnerable to external hazards, so start to encourage independence now. This will help them to develop into strong, competent and capable adults ready to take on the world and its challenges.
Now you know WHY it’s important to encourage independence in your children, read our next blog to learn HOW!
At Schoolhouse Daycare, we enjoy learning, encouraging confidence and we love life! If you think your child would enjoy life at Schoolhouse, then please do not hesitate to arrange a visit.