One of the biggest challenges parents face is how to make their children independent. If you find yourself questioning how to get your child to become more independent and take initiative you have come to the right place. Many parents are familiar with the all too usual practice of having to remind their kids to do their homework or put away their toys or clean up after themselves. You wonder to yourself, when will children begin to do things on their own without prompting. Do not fear because the solution is here!
As a parent, one of the most important things for you is to see your child succeed and work independently. While you will always be there to guide them and pick them up when they fall, you want to invoke independence from a young age. The main tip I myself can give from being a teacher at Math Genie, and working with children each day, is to allow your child to grow.
Have High Expectations for them. When you hold your child accountable and keep high expectations for them, your child will be more inclined to engage in good behavior and work hard. High Expectations doesn’t mean you have to be overbearing but to make it clear that you expect a certain level of performance from your child and you will hold them accountable for this. Nothing short of this will do.
Lead by example. By becoming a leader and showing your child how to be independent and the importance of being independent your child will be more inclined to do so. Allow your child to see you do something new; this will encourage them to step out of their comfort zone. Seeing their role models do so will make a difference. In the beginning, it will take a little push, but as time passes your child will adapt. At Math Genie, we have a strict set of rules that we establish. These expectations are what make the classroom interactions go smoothly. Children know what is expected from them and they are rewarded for this.
Create a situation in which your child will be forced to work independently. While school is an excellent place where children are away from their parents and learn, other activities such as joining a sports club or going to a center such as Math Genie can prove to be very beneficial. Our structure at math genie is created in a way that calls for children to work independently.
Also never forget the importance of positive reinforcement. When your child works independently and you see them taking initiative, make sure this positive behavior is rewarded. My article here discusses all of the pros of positive reinforcement.
Last but not least, have faith in your child. After all, they are your children. Understand that coming out of one’s comfort zone might be unpleasant. As an adult, I’m sure you know that. Keep in mind it’s not always going to be easy. Always let your child know that you are going to be there for them.
