When your children are very young, it is only natural that they will depend on you for just about everything. You are their caregiver, their teacher, and their best friend all rolled into one. This can be a wonderful feeling even while it is very exhausting! However, as they get older, it is only natural for kids to want to start pulling away a little bit. You would actually be surprised by how quickly your children may start wanting some extra independence. Once they go to school and begin spending large portions of the day away from you, they will probably start wanting to take charge of their own life a little bit. This can be quite a scary time for many parents but here are just a few ways to give your child the independence that they want while still being able to keep them safe.
Let them choose their own clothes
When they are babies and toddlers, your kids are likely to need you to find their clothes, and to dress them too! However, as they get a little bit older, then they will probably want to start choosing their own clothes. Kids have a much stronger sense of identity than you might think and they know how they want to look, even if that look is a little… unconventional. It is probably a good idea to forget some things that you think about fashion. Although you might have always dressed them in Armani baby clothes, when it is up to them, your kids might decide that they want to wear a sweater, shorts, socks, and sandals all at once, all in different shades of green. There is nothing wrong with that of course! Kids should feel comfortable expressing themselves, and they will probably grow out of that stage pretty quickly as the novelty of choosing their own clothes wears off.
Let them go on playdates without you
Now, this is only something that you should do if you are leaving your children with an adult whom you completely trust. If they have a friend from school whom they want to play with, then why not let them go over and have a play date without your supervision. If you are worried, you can always request update texts from the adult you have left them with. That way you are able to make sure that your kids are all right without them feeling like you are constantly hovering over them.
Get them involved with things like cooking
If you want your kids to feel a little more independent, why not start getting them more involved in various day-to-day tasks? Cooking is a fantastic option since it gives them a greater sense of understanding of the food that they are eating, as well as providing them with a valuable life skill. Being able to take some responsibility for things in their life, your kids are likely to start feeling much more grown-up and independent.
The important thing to remember is that, no matter how independent they become, your kids should always know that you are there for them if they need you. They might want to get out and live their own life, but they are always going to need you!
