Nurture Independence in Your Preschooler

 

For many preschool-aged children, independence is an important source of self-confidence. Three and four year olds seem to be on a never-ending quest for independence and doing things for themselves. While it’s often neat to see your child do things you didn’t realize they could do on their own, it can be a challenging time for parents since your child may make more demands and throw more fits if they do not get their way. Independence-building activities can also take more time to get done correctly and making mistakes can often cause frustration or even temper tantrums. At Kids ‘R’ Kids Avalon Park, we understand the importance of practicing “independence” skills so we have listed some
great activities parents can let their children practice at home.

Dressing Themselves

Even if your child hasn’t mastered pulling a shirt over their head or buttoning their pants, allowing them to do as much as they can by themselves is a great learning experience. Picking out the clothes they want to wear the night before can even make dressing time go smoother for everyone in the morning since they will be excited to try on their new fashion choices.

Brushing Their Teeth

After a few instructional lessons on how to put toothpaste on a toothbrush and how rinse properly, your preschooler should be able to brush their teeth with little help from you. Buying a toothbrush that lights up or plays music for two minutes (available at most drug stores and grocery stores) can also help them learn how long they should brush their teeth for in order to maintain proper mouth health.

Setting the Table for Meals

Giving your preschooler a role in the family meal is not only great for building independence, but it also models the value of everyone pitching in with chores. Showing them how to set up plates and utensils is an easy task that won’t take long to master but will help them build confidence and have a sense of importance within the family chore list.

Cleaning Their Room

Starting kids early with room chores is a good way to create good cleaning habits that will benefit them (and you) later in life.  Even if the bed is not made perfectly or the toys are not back in their exact spots, the more important task is to show they understand how to clean up after themselves and be respectful of the space they live.

Taking Care of a Pet

Taking over small, easy pet chores like feeding the fish/cat/dog or filling water bowls can help your preschooler learn about compassion and caring for animals. It’s a small chore that can have big benefits for both your pet and your child.

We value the importance of preschooler independence and work cooperatively with parents to help their child gain self-worth and confidence through small actions throughout our everyday curriculum and daily activities. Contact our preschool experts to learn about our incredible preschool programs we offer in Avalon Park FL.