When I came home from the hospital with my new bundle of joy reality set in and I started to think while Kennedy was sleeping peacefully how I was going to raise a strong independent woman. You know the saying "all I need to know I learned in kindergarten" well I think that truly applies to how you raise your child from day one. My husband and I have always been firm believers in helping our daughter be independent as she can be with each stage in her life. would like to be. If I had a dollar for every time someone said we are spoiling our daughter we would be millionaires. What someone considers spoiling we consider it to be creating an independent toddler. This goes all the way back to how I was raised and today I am so appreciative of how I was raised. I was raised to have a mind of my own, to voice my opinion, to decide good from bad on my own and to show off my personality through my wardrobe. Kennedy may only be 2.5 years old but let me tell you she is smarter, more independent and a total social butterfly compared to other children her age. And I don't say that to put down anyone I just attribute that to how my husband and I are raising her. So here is a list of the top 5 things you can do to create an independent toddler.
So there you have it the top 5 ways to help create an independent toddler. I hope these are helpful tools and would love to hear your feedback on other ways in which you empower your child to be independent!
Until next time stay stylish and cool!
xoxo,
KTS
- ALLOW THEM TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS: I always give Kennedy options when it comes to what she eats. For example, would you like an apple or a banana? Or would you like toast with jelly or almond butter? I am still in control of what she eats but she feels she is by making the choice between the two. I don't just tell her this is what you are going to eat. When it is getting late I will ask her; Kennedy are you ready for bed? Usually she will say no not yet. I will respond with ok you can either watch a tv show for 20 minutes or we can have a longer story time. Again, she is able to make her choice. This is allowing her to make a decision for herself allowing her to develop her opinion and what she would like to do so she feels it is her choice and things are not forced upon her.
- SHOW THEM HOW: It is amazing how big of a helper Kennedy is around the house. She knows how to put away the dishes, and load the dishwasher, she knows how to separate the laundry and put them in the washer and then put things in the dryer. She knows where the hangers are and how to hang them correctly. She knows if she needs a diaper where to get it. She knows how to turn on and off the tv. She knows how to get her own water, her own snacks and much more. Now how did she learn these things you ask? I showed her instead of doing these things while she slept; I included her in the process so that way when she grows up she knows the basics of how to care for a household and can take care of herself. These are life lessons I am teaching as young as I can.
- READ ADVANCED BOOKS: I totally believe in reading books their age but I also believe children can understand way more than we give them credit for. Thus, my husband and I decided about a year ago when Kennedy turned 1 that we would read a novel to her at night. Since Kennedy loves Disney we decided on Disney novels. We read about a chapter a night and I swear this is why she is able to speak as if she was 4 years old. We are now nearing the end of our second novel.
- TEACH THEM MANNERS: Since she started speaking her first words I have instilled in her having manners. Please and thank you even as adults always go a long way. It's rare to find well-mannered kids and I find in our house it is a necessity. She can't have what she wants until she says please or thank you. She is now to the point she will remind us. lol It's also important for them to know their own age, name and how to ask others their name. Because of this she loves going up to people when we are out no matter their age and asking what their name is. Yes, at 2.5 years old this little one can spark a conversation better than most adults I know.
- DON'T DO IT FOR THEM: Before I do anything for Kennedy I always see if she can do it for herself first. Whether its putting a lid on a cup, buckling her seat belt, putting on her clothes/shoes, doing her hair and much more. I try to always allow her to to try and do it herself first before I just go ahead and do it for her. 9 times out of 10 she gets excited that she gets to do it herself and it make take a few attempts or even days but eventually she figures it out and is so proud when she does. I know this one can get frustrating because maybe they end up spilling the drink, or they buckle the seat wrong or whatever but just know you are helping them and then once they try you can go back and do it correctly but the point is they tried to do it themselves.
So there you have it the top 5 ways to help create an independent toddler. I hope these are helpful tools and would love to hear your feedback on other ways in which you empower your child to be independent!
Until next time stay stylish and cool!
xoxo,
KTS