Empower Independence: How to Raise a Confident Child
When children are born, they are completely dependent on their parents for everything. As they grow, they need to learn how to do things for themselves without adult supervision. This is a natural and important part of the developmental process.
In this article, we will explore when to start supporting and encouraging children’s independence, and how to begin.
You can start encouraging autonomy in your child as early as 12 to 18 months old, or even a bit earlier depending on their development. Of course, it’s not about expecting them to do complex things, but rather giving them small, age-appropriate opportunities to participate, choose, and try. The idea is to gently introduce independence into everyday routines. Here’s an overview of what children can begin to do based on their age:
Before the age of one, you can start letting your baby hold their bottle on their own
🍼 From 1 year old (12–18 months):
- Let the child try to feed themselves with a spoon (even if they get messy!)
- Show them how to put a toy away after using it
- Offer two simple choices: “Do you want this book or that one?”
🚼 At 2–3 years old:
- Clean up toys with your help
- Choose their clothes from 2 or 3 options
- Start learning to wash hands (with assistance)
See Also : Simple activities to encourage independence
👦👧 At 4–5 years old:
- Dress themselves (with a bit of help for buttons or shoelaces)
- Brush their teeth with less supervision
- Participate in morning and bedtime routines
- Tidy up their room with simple instructions
Don’t let the hunger of disappointment creep in when it seems like one of your children should be more independent than he is.
The earlier you start, the more your child gets used to doing things on their own. It’s not so much about the exact age, but more about trusting them, giving them the chance to try, to fail, and to try again.
