Comments on: Encouraging Independence in My Kids http://www.makeandtakes.com/encouraging-independence-in-my-kids Craft Ideas, Kids Crafts, Recipes and More Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:45:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bydrered http://www.makeandtakes.com/encouraging-independence-in-my-kids#comment-55799 bydrered Mon, 31 Oct 2011 07:23:07 +0000 http://www.makeandtakes.com/?p=2477#comment-55799 I have two grown children that I encouraged to be independant and thoughtful. I have two grown children that I encouraged to be independant and thoughtful.

]]> By: Amy http://www.makeandtakes.com/encouraging-independence-in-my-kids#comment-48853 Amy Mon, 04 Jul 2011 15:41:33 +0000 http://www.makeandtakes.com/?p=2477#comment-48853 Kudos to you for allowing your children to experience independence! If we don't teach them independence when they're kids, they'll never learn! The younger you allow them to do it, the better off you are. If you wait until they're old enough to not spill, they'll no longer have a desire to do it or consider it fun. A parent's job it to teach, not to do FOR the child. Yes they will make messes. Messes are part of the learning process. How will they ever learn how to pour without spilling if they aren't allowed to practice without mom getting upset? And another part of that learning process is the cleaning up. If they are capable of pouring their own cereal, then they are perfectly capable of cleaning up spills. Yes, you'll go behind them when they're not looking and clean up better, but you're fostering a sense of accomplishment, independence, and pride when you allow your child to do for him or herself. And you foster responsibility when you let them clean up their own messes. It makes them feel so proud of themselves! Kudos to you for allowing your children to experience independence! If we don’t teach them independence when they’re kids, they’ll never learn! The younger you allow them to do it, the better off you are. If you wait until they’re old enough to not spill, they’ll no longer have a desire to do it or consider it fun. A parent’s job it to teach, not to do FOR the child. Yes they will make messes. Messes are part of the learning process. How will they ever learn how to pour without spilling if they aren’t allowed to practice without mom getting upset? And another part of that learning process is the cleaning up. If they are capable of pouring their own cereal, then they are perfectly capable of cleaning up spills. Yes, you’ll go behind them when they’re not looking and clean up better, but you’re fostering a sense of accomplishment, independence, and pride when you allow your child to do for him or herself. And you foster responsibility when you let them clean up their own messes. It makes them feel so proud of themselves!

]]> By: Let’s Explore » Blog Archive » Initiative, Independence, & Responsibility http://www.makeandtakes.com/encouraging-independence-in-my-kids#comment-17484 Let’s Explore » Blog Archive » Initiative, Independence, & Responsibility Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:03:40 +0000 http://www.makeandtakes.com/?p=2477#comment-17484 [...] Encouraging Independence in My Kids @ Make and Takes [...] [...] Encouraging Independence in My Kids @ Make and Takes [...]

]]> By: Mary Q Contrarie http://www.makeandtakes.com/encouraging-independence-in-my-kids#comment-15021 Mary Q Contrarie Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:27:33 +0000 http://www.makeandtakes.com/?p=2477#comment-15021 I have two grown children that I encouraged to be independant and thoughtful. They are wonderful adults. Your blog brought back some nice memories. One of my favorites was of the kids using the <a href="http://www.bestdryingrack.com/" rel="nofollow"> laundry drying rack</a>. I was often amazed in how creative they could be in gettng lots of laundry on that rack. I should have taken pictures. I have two grown children that I encouraged to be independant and thoughtful. They are wonderful adults. Your blog brought back some nice memories. One of my favorites was of the kids using the laundry drying rack. I was often amazed in how creative they could be in gettng lots of laundry on that rack. I should have taken pictures.

]]> By: lisa http://www.makeandtakes.com/encouraging-independence-in-my-kids#comment-13921 lisa Sun, 01 Mar 2009 04:16:57 +0000 http://www.makeandtakes.com/?p=2477#comment-13921 I let my 2 year old pour her own cereal and milk. The trick: we only open the cereal bag a little bit, so the cereal can't come pouring out. I pour the milk into her sippy cup, then let her pour some from there into the bowl before I put the lid on the sippy cup. If she spills, I say "Oops!" in a cheery voice and hand her a paper towel. I let my 2 year old pour her own cereal and milk. The trick: we only open the cereal bag a little bit, so the cereal can’t come pouring out. I pour the milk into her sippy cup, then let her pour some from there into the bowl before I put the lid on the sippy cup. If she spills, I say “Oops!” in a cheery voice and hand her a paper towel.

]]> By: Heather http://www.makeandtakes.com/encouraging-independence-in-my-kids#comment-13914 Heather Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:21:35 +0000 http://www.makeandtakes.com/?p=2477#comment-13914 I grabbed a lesson from preschool myself, where the children pour their own milk. Decant it from the huge grocery gallon into a smaller pitcher, like a creamer, or even a pyrex measuring cup (the one cup size). Then even a two-year-old can pour it without mishap, most of the time. We let the two-year-old crack eggs (but not right into the batter), pour ingredients, knead bread -- loves that!-- and tear lettuce for salad. There are so many things they can do, if you break it down into simple step-by-step tasks. That's the hard part for me, staying one step ahead! I grabbed a lesson from preschool myself, where the children pour their own milk. Decant it from the huge grocery gallon into a smaller pitcher, like a creamer, or even a pyrex measuring cup (the one cup size). Then even a two-year-old can pour it without mishap, most of the time.

We let the two-year-old crack eggs (but not right into the batter), pour ingredients, knead bread — loves that!– and tear lettuce for salad.

There are so many things they can do, if you break it down into simple step-by-step tasks. That’s the hard part for me, staying one step ahead!

]]> By: Good Reads: the Almost Spring Edition http://www.makeandtakes.com/encouraging-independence-in-my-kids#comment-13908 Good Reads: the Almost Spring Edition Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:47:38 +0000 http://www.makeandtakes.com/?p=2477#comment-13908 [...] Encouraging Independence in My Kids — from Make and Takes [...] [...] Encouraging Independence in My Kids — from Make and Takes [...]

]]> By: Marie http://www.makeandtakes.com/encouraging-independence-in-my-kids#comment-13636 Marie Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:11:55 +0000 http://www.makeandtakes.com/?p=2477#comment-13636 Great tasks have been listed: toy pick up, dishes, folding laundry, make their beds, get themselves dressed! We're going to have some great kids turning into fabulous adults! Great tasks have been listed: toy pick up, dishes, folding laundry, make their beds, get themselves dressed!

We’re going to have some great kids turning into fabulous adults!

]]> By: Becky Sue http://www.makeandtakes.com/encouraging-independence-in-my-kids#comment-13633 Becky Sue Sun, 22 Feb 2009 02:07:24 +0000 http://www.makeandtakes.com/?p=2477#comment-13633 Excellent post! I/we do have a definitive daily chore list, but they are in training at the ages of 2 and 3! Especially with toy pick up. My oldest loves to mirror me, but typically her help is counter productive, lol. Excellent post!
I/we do have a definitive daily chore list, but they are in training at the ages of 2 and 3! Especially with toy pick up. My oldest loves to mirror me, but typically her help is counter productive, lol.

]]> By: Heidi @ Blue Eyed Blessings http://www.makeandtakes.com/encouraging-independence-in-my-kids#comment-13626 Heidi @ Blue Eyed Blessings Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:31:04 +0000 http://www.makeandtakes.com/?p=2477#comment-13626 The other day I suddenly realized that my daughter is going to be 3 in April and she is now old enough to be helping a little more around the house (which she often does, but nothing specific). These links were great for me to browse and I love that it came at just the right time! I am thinking of making a chore chart for her as she is at the right age of being able to do some things on her own. By the way...my daughter also loves to help make PB & J, but with one swipe of the pb on the bread, she asks to lick the knife and she's suddenly lost interest in the making of the sandwich! :) The other day I suddenly realized that my daughter is going to be 3 in April and she is now old enough to be helping a little more around the house (which she often does, but nothing specific). These links were great for me to browse and I love that it came at just the right time! I am thinking of making a chore chart for her as she is at the right age of being able to do some things on her own.

By the way…my daughter also loves to help make PB & J, but with one swipe of the pb on the bread, she asks to lick the knife and she’s suddenly lost interest in the making of the sandwich! :)

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