As parents, we all want our children to develop the skills they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. More important than anything else, perhaps one of the best skills your child could ever acquire is independence. As children learn to negotiate their environment at school independently, they develop confidence, responsibility, and problem-solving abilities. Helping your child become more independent at school enables him to thrive in the classroom while building a foundation for a lifetime of ongoing development. Here’s how to guide your child toward becoming more independent at school.
Start with Simple Responsibilities at Home
The spirit of independence starts at home. Give your child small, simple tasks to execute which give him an opportunity for being responsible and finding him accountable for his actions. In the case of younger kids, these may include tasks such as packing his school bag, choosing his own clothes, or organizing his schoolwork. Such small acts of responsibility help them understand the concept of managing tasks on their own.
As he or she gets accustomed to these activities, give him or her more significant responsibilities. For example, you can have them prepare a simple breakfast or pack their lunchbox. Ownership of the morning routine provides them with practice for habits that will be useful in school later.
Schedule Activities
A routine would be most imperative in building up independence. Make a daily schedule concerning morning and school, as well as evening routines; this puts the child in control and makes the child feel safe. In this regard, since the general routine would be structured, they will learn ways of time management, for instance, when to finish their homework, get ready for school, or wind up for bed.
Give your child a sense of ownership by allowing them to help develop the routine. You could let them set up part of a visual schedule or help you create a checklist of things they will have to do during their day. This way, your child will have some control over their schedule and will also understand the use of time management.
Foster Decision-Making End
Encourage self-determination in your child through the use of choices. As much as it is important to guide him, giving a child choices on certain aspects- like what to wear or what to eat for a snack- develops his decision-making capabilities. Choices offer confidence and a sense of autonomy, which are important features of budding independence.
Encourage your child to take the lead at school in small ways, such as being the first to raise her hand to answer a question or approaching her teacher with a question about an assignment. Praise for decisions made builds confidence to be more responsible at school.
Social Independence
Besides academics, children learn a lot about social development in school. Social independence is one of the important skills that help your child to develop the ability of communicating with other children and making friendships among others. Encourage your child to take the lead and talk with other students, ask questions whenever they feel the need, use daycare labels to help and engage themselves in group activities.
You can also practice some role-play at home with your child to prepare him for social situations at school. For instance, pretend to be a classmate, and practice how to ask for help or invite others to play. This kind of practice will build your child’s social skills, preparing him for real-life interactions at school.
Encourage Self-Advocacy
Part of independence is knowing when to ask for help. While your child certainly should try first to solve the problem independently, he should know it’s a sign of strength, not weakness, to seek help when needed. Encourage your child to stand up for himself in the classroom: ask the teacher to repeat the lesson, or tell a classmate something’s bothering him.
Also, role-play how the child may ask for help or ask for what he or she may want. Let him know that it is all right to ask for help when one does not get through with something, as that would instill independence and self-confidence.
Model Positive Behaviour And Reflection
Once your child has made some effort to do something themselves, take the time to celebrate their successes. Positive reinforcement is necessary in the building of your child’s confidence and to reinforce independence in your child: Assure them that they did a great job of packing up their things independently or solving that tough problem at school.
Also, lead your child to reflect on his or her day: for example, “What is one thing you did by yourself today?” or “What is something you felt proud of today?” This kind of reflection process will make your child much more aware of his or her growth and encourage him or her toward further independence.
Conclusion
Encouraging your child to be more independent at school means gradually introducing the child to making decisions, solving problems, and understanding the concept of accountability for one’s actions. While cultivating the area of independence, you end up instilling in your child real-life skills that will carry on outside of school into the mainstream of life. Support and guide your child sufficiently, and he or she will become self-assured, self-reliant, and better equipped to meet school and life beyond.