- Encourage your child to make choices from a young age, starting with 2 simple options such as:
- Do you want toast or cereal? As he grows, let him handle more complex choices.
- Respect the choices he makes and he will learn from what works and from what doesn't.
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- Keep your child's individual abilities and personality in mind.
- As your children show they are responsible, expand their opportunities to become more independent.
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- Teach your child life skills - how to be a good friend, how to stick up for herself, how to solve problems, and enjoy success.
- Children enjoy learning to use assertive communication.
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- Acknowledge feelings - even those you don't like to hear - and stay calm.
- Help your child to see the difference between feelings and actions.
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| Katie who is 9 has a playmate who teases her and calls her names because her teeth are crooked. |
- Katie's Mom helped her put her feelings into words, and practice what she wanted to say to her friend.
- "I don't like it when you call me names because of my teeth. It makes me angry and I think it's mean. I want you to stop calling me names if we're going to be friends."
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- Live by the values you want your child to gain. If you expect honesty, your child will be confused if she hears you repeatedly using lies, even little innocent ones.
- Re-thinking your own values will help you put them into words for you children.
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Tips on Promoting Independence