Children require a lot of time and attention, relying on others to meet every need when they are young. But once a child reaches 2-3 years of age, they are ready to start learning how to do things on their own. Here are four ways to encourage independence in your toddler or preschooler.

1. Don't Underestimate Their Ability

We love our children and want to provide everything they need. However, many parents develop the bad habit of doing for children what they should be doing for themselves. This behavior can lead to learned helplessness and delay a child's independent skills.

Most young children are more than capable of performing small tasks by themselves. For example, the average 3-year old can push their dining room chair in and take their plate to the kitchen counter when they are done eating. You can encourage your child's independence by expecting them to participate in every aspect of family life.

2. Give Them Chores to Do

If you teach your children to pick up after themselves and do things around the house when they are young, you will instill valuable habits for the future. You will also have less to do yourself. If you have a dog, show your child where the dog food is and how to put a scoop in their bowl. Give them the dishcloth to wipe the table.

You can also combine chores with learning activities. For example, have them help you sort laundry, separating colors from whites. Matching socks is another excellent job for a toddler or preschooler. Sorting through the plastic kitchen containers and finding the right lid for each container is another good job.

Make chore time both fun and educational whenever you can, and they will be more likely to willingly participate in the game. Be sure to praise them for a job well done when they complete each task — this will foster their future cooperation and independence. 

3. Allow Extra Time to Complete Activities

Life is busy and parents are often in a hurry. This is especially true in families with working parents and a child who attends daycare or preschool. Mornings can be hectic getting everyone ready and out the door on time, so parents often do things for their child for efficiency’s sake. 

However, continually dressing or feeding your toddler or preschooler rather than letting them to do it on their own will delay independent development. Wake your child up 15 minutes earlier or rearrange your morning schedule so they have plenty of stress-free time to actively participate in getting ready for the day without having to rush.

Don't forget to allow time to transition from one activity to the next to reduce stress and remember each child is different in terms of temperament and development. Daycare facilities are sure to allow transition times between activities for these reasons. 

4. Implement Routines



Children thrive when their environment is structured. This includes establishing predictable routines, rules, and consistent consequences for undesirable behaviors. A structured environment also encourages independence. When a child knows what to expect, they can anticipate what comes next.

When their environment is structured and consistent, they eventually figure out the routine. For example, if immediately after eating breakfast you have your child brush their teeth, they will quickly grasp the pattern and will eventually go brush their teeth on their own when they finish eating. Creating routines at home also makes it easier for children to adapt to other routines, such as the schedule at preschool.

Whether your child is currently in our care or you are considering our facility, contact us today to learn how Small World Early Learning and Development Center can foster your child's independence or answer any questions you might have.