Parenting and when Children Become Independent

All of a sudden your tiny, helpless and entirely dependent bundle of joy will start to grow up, do lots of things for themselves and gradually need you less and less.

This is what positive, effective and well balanced parenting is all about and if your child is independent, assertive, self confident and well balanced then you have done a pretty good job!

However, children develop their independence at very different stages and sometimes girls appear to be more independent than boys at an early age. The oldest child in a family may well become independent quicker than his or her younger brothers and sisters do, and some children may struggle with the whole concept of being self sufficient until they are considerably older than their peers.

All Children Are Different

Children all begin to gain their independence at different stages and find some parts of growing up easier than others. The key to continuing your positive parenting is to accept that all children are different and need different levels of support and guidance as they start to grow up.

One of the best things that any parents can do for their growing child is to equip them with the life tools they need in order to become more independent. You may feel that you want to keep your children as babies forever because this is how we can protect them and keep them from harmful influences.

Letting Go

However hard letting go of your child’s childhood may seem, you have to think of them and how they are going to develop into a well balanced individual. You may feel that your role as a parent is not important anymore and that you are really not needed.

This is simply not the case at all, you will simply find that your role is changing and developing into something different - just like your child is.

Equipping Your Child For Life

By ensuring that your child continues to feel safe, secure and loved by you, you will enable them to start becoming more independent, and this will actually make your life easier eventually!

Independence begins with small things such as a child being able to go to the toilet unaided, managing to pour their own drinks and put on their own coat. This development then progresses to getting themselves dressed in the morning and even getting their own breakfast-and this will happen sooner than you think!

Independence is also about children being able to make their own decisions and choices and by teaching them how to be confident and secure, your parenting skills will really come into play. You will find that the way you encourage your child to do things for themselves will help them enormously both at school and beyond. They will grow into confident young people who are able to help themselves to make decisions and find their way through life without too many problems.

As parents you will always have an important role to play in your child’s life and they will always need your help, love and support and guidance-whatever their age and stage of their development.