How to Support Your Toddler’s Independence
This week we’re talking all about building independence in your child as they grow. Because babies need us to do everything for them, we sometimes find ourselves in the habit of doing things for our children that they can easily learn to do on their own. As you’ve probably already noticed, young children LOVE being able to do things for themselves. It’s a direct path to confidence and self-esteem.
DRESSING & UNDRESSING
Providing your child with shoes they can learn to independently put on and take off is a great start. Crocs or shoes with Velcro are the best shoes for helping your child build this skill. Avoid shoes with ties, tongues, or buckles, as these require much more advanced motor skills. Start with teaching them to take off their shoes first. Show them how to put one hand on the toe, one hand on the heel, and pull the heel of the shoe off.
Pants with a stretchy elastic waist are the best for teaching how to get dressed. Clothing such as jeans, overalls, and onesies are much more difficult for children to use independently. When it’s time for your child to get dressed, have them sit down. Show them how to hold the front of their pants with two hands so they can put their feet in. Have your child hold the front of their pants while you grab the back of the pants and pull up together. After some time, they will start to be able to get their pants over their bottom without help.
Remember that mistakes are okay and don’t necessarily need to be corrected. Your child may put their shoes on the wrong feet or their pants on backwards. If they successfully did it, let it be! It’s more important for them to feel confident in their abilities than it is for them to do it perfectly. Eventually, they will start to figure out which shoe goes on which foot. When we correct a child who is working on building independence, we can dampen their spirit and make them feel avoidant to try new things, lest they not do it “right.”
EATING & DRINKING
If your child is still drinking from a sippy cup or bottle at meals, now is a great time to introduce an open cup. Shot glasses are actually a great starter cup for a child because they have a heavy bottom, which makes them hard to tip over, and they only hold a little bit of liquid so they spills aren’t that big.
Start putting out a fork and/or spoon for your child at every meal. Show your child how to scoop and poke and encourage them to try with their own food. Learning to use these tools is an excellent indirect preparation for learning to write. The motor skills and hand-eye coordination they build directly translates to holding and controlling a pencil.
After meals, have your child help you clean up. Here at school the children (even the very young ones) clear their dishes. They take their plate to a bucket and dump all leftover food scraps into it and then place it in the dish cart. The children love wiping down the tables and helping to get food off the floor. Give your child the tools and they will help you clean and feel so proud when they do!
