Cultivating Independence in Children

As our children grow older, they develop new skills and knowledge. It can be a bittersweet feeling to watch your young children grow into their unique personalities and traits. Observing your child gain independence as they learn self-management, self-help skills, and take on greater responsibilities both at school and at home is an important aspect of growing up. As parents, while we wish for our children’s health, happiness, and the capacity to live comfortable and successful lives, we also want to ensure that they can take care of themselves and those around them.

Let’s begin to empower our children to be independent with these tips:

GUIDE THEM

Be a role model by showing and guiding them in self-help tasks and independence. For toddlers and young children, this might involve making time during bath times to teach them to dress themselves.

For older children, folding and putting away freshly laundered clothes together not only allows you to teach them new skills but can also be a bonding activity.

GIVE THEM SPACE AND TRUST

Instead of “rescuing” our children from chores and their individual responsibilities, remember that it takes time and space for them to hone their independence.

For example, while it might take you a few minutes to help your children pack their bags for school, be prepared for them to take more than 10 minutes as they experiment and gain independence and autonomy in this seemingly simple task.

RESPECT THEIR CHOICES

Imagine this: you have been showing your child the tips and tricks to put their toys away. You find yourself pleasantly surprised when they volunteer to pack up all by themselves, only to find that the way they did it wasn’t what you expected.

In this scenario, let’s be mindful of our responses. Instead of criticising and immediately pointing out how they should have packed their toys, show appreciation for their initiative and effort. The gratitude and respect you show your children will continue to motivate and encourage them to learn and grow in independence.

BE REFLECTIVE TOGETHER

We all have different ways of managing and performing tasks. Through experiences, we learn and improve. With open-mindedness, we can support our children in developing problem-solving skills as they improve and progress with new responsibilities and skills.

For example, you may notice that your pre-teen has been forgetting to complete some homework ever since they started managing this responsibility on their own. Openly discuss this concern with them in a non-judgemental way and together, work out a solution to improve the situation.

PATIENCE IS KEY!

We hate to see our children struggle and fail. But our instinctual action to protect and swoop in to offer help and assistance might not only take away the opportunities for them to learn independence, it also affects their self-esteem and confidence. Let’s remember that all things take time. Giving your children the space and opportunities to learn under your support and guidance will empower them take ownership and learn to be independent.

DEVELOP INDEPENDENCE AT CAMP BEAUMONT’S CAMPS!

Immerse your children in a fun-filled learning adventure with Camp Beaumont’s Residential Camps happening at Marlborough College Malaysia (Johor Bahru) and Prince of Wales Island International School (Balik Pulau) this summer!

In addition to our Residential Camps, we are also offering exciting Day Camps this April and throughout the summer. With the support of our experienced and passionate camp leaders, watch your children flourish and grow in independence as they experience a variety of activities designed to foster self-management and personal growth.

Following routines that include time to play, explore, learn, and be entrusted with self-management tasks, our camps are designed to support the holistic development of your pre-teens.

Visit our website for more detail about the upcoming camps this April and Summer at www.campbeaumont.asia.

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