Here in the Pre-K Classroom, one of my goals for your child is to see their independence blossom before moving on to Kindergarten.  Even early on in the school year,  we must start now to help this growth take place.

The following is some information I put together from an article called

“How to Build Independence In Preschoolers.” 

Young children love to do things for themselves — even when it makes life harder for their parents. Here are some tips to help your preschooler build independence while keeping your own frustration to a minimum. From birth, children are on a quest for independence. We see this as babies try to spoon-feed themselves or insist on taking off their own diapers, as toddlers demand to dress themselves or turn the faucet on at the sink.

Opportunities to develop independence are immensely important for building a sense of self and self-esteem — not to mention frustration tolerance and perseverance

Still, as parents, it’s hard not to groan at the thought of our preschoolers racing for the step stool, climbing up, and then trying to pour themselves a glass of milk. Letting children carry out tasks often means that the task will take twice as long — and be three times as messy. And it can be hard to watch your child try, fail and feel frustrated or disappointed.

However, I promise you in the long run the pride and confidence they feel in doing things on their own will be worth it! 

SET PREDICTABLE ROUTINES

It may seem surprising, but establishing a consistent routine is important for nurturing independence. Just like adults, when children can anticipate their day, they are better equipped to take on responsibilities. Not to be confused with a schedule (though the two might overlap), a routine is any sequence of events that occurs throughout the day. Even the act of brushing teeth is a routine because it has multiple steps that always go in the same order: turn on the water, rinse the toothbrush, put on toothpaste, brush, rinse, dry hands and mouth. Likewise, going outside involves putting on a coat and shoes, maybe packing a snack, or remembering a favorite toy or doll.

As children experience these routines over and over, they learn to anticipate what comes next, and they start to take on more responsibility with less help. If you let your child do some of the prep work, such as putting the toothpaste on their toothbrush or finding their coat and shoes, they will increasingly take on more of these steps on their own. And you are communicating to them that you have faith in their ability to do these steps without you, but also that you are there to help if they need it.

LET YOUR CHILD CHOOSE

Another way to support your child’s independence is to give them choices. Involve them in deciding what to wear, what to play or who to call. This does not have to mean they have free rein. Provide two or three options, and then praise their great ability to make a choice! Providing choices is especially valuable when your preschooler insists on doing something their way. For example, they might want to cross the street by themselves, which might be something you can’t let them do. By offering a choice – to hold your hand or to be carried – they can feel empowered even while you keep them safe.

LET YOUR CHILD HELP

Children love to help! In addition to building independence, this is a great tool for calming tantrums or redirecting behavior by giving them a sense of control. When you allow your child to help, you foster their confidence and give them an opportunity to learn something new. While this may involve adding an extra step or two, it is also a great way to involve your child in daily routines and activities.

For example, when making scrambled eggs, an adult might pour the milk directly into the bowl and dispose of the shells directly in the garbage. As an alternative, consider pouring milk into a small cup or pitcher and asking your child to pour it into the bowl. Likewise, collect the eggshells in a small bowl and ask your child to help dump them in the garbage.

Again, you are communicating to your child that you trust them to take on these tasks, and these moments also provide an opportunity for back-and-forth conversation about an activity with a shared goal. Plus, kids are more likely to get excited about, and then eat(!), food that they helped prepare. So having your child snap off the ends of string beans may be another way to sneak more greens into their diet.

GIVE YOUR CHILD CHORES

Simple tasks like picking up toys or putting laundry in the basket allow your child to have reasonable responsibility and help with maintaining structure throughout the day. In fact, these chores can be embedded into your daily routines. For example, part of your child’s mealtime routine can include bringing their plate to the sink or even helping load the dishwasher (keep the knives for yourself!).

GO TO YOUTUBE AND TYPE IN JACK HARTMAN CLEAN-UP SONG--- TRY IT AT HOME. THEY LOVE IT!

Other Ways to Support Your Pre-K Student This Year..

Fine Motor Toys and Activities at Home.

• Amazon has tons of affordable things you can get to help develop those hand muscles.  Or I Can GIve You LOTS OF IDEAS TOO! 

Tracing NoteBook Practice

• When I start sending home their tracing page each week, have them practice 2 or 3 times. ( Just a few minutes is all that is needed)

Letter Practice

• When we start a Letter A Week, make a letter wall at home and add to it each week. Practice saying them each evening as a bedtime routine.  (Just a few seconds)
• Go on a