Independent Child
Is Yours One?
How do you know if you have an independent child? How do you raise one? This page will address these questions and hopefully be able to answer them.
Riding Trike
Let's say you have a son who wants to ride his bike to the store, a few blocks away, and you are not sure how to answer him. Let's walk through this and see if the illustration will answer our questions.
For a child to show you he is independent he should first do so under your watchful eye. Ride, or walk, along with your son the first few times. Be observant to the surroundings such as blind curves, traffic and the possibility of attacks from unfenced dogs. Watch how your child rides, does he look like he could be on his own for a few blocks. Is he using hand signals, stopping and looking for cars at intersections and practicing other safe biking techniques.
When you have made a few trips and are comfortable with the route, and his riding ability, try letting him go part way there and back by himself. Maybe try a little farther the next day. When the day comes for his first solo trip to the store you might even ask him to give you a call before he leaves for the trip home.
Riding Bike
When you child arrives home he will have become, in at least one aspect of his life, that child feels independent. So how do you raise independent children? You do it just like teaching them to ride a bike to the store alone. You teach the basic skills, you let them practice these skills under your watchful eye, helping, teaching and guiding as needed. You then give them a solo run so they can rejoice in a new form of independence.
An independent child is one that has mastered a lot of little skills and mixed these talents with a heavy dose of good judgment and common sense.
Other related pages at Parenting Magic
Magazines For Children :
TV And Children :
Raising Self Esteem
Raising A Gifted Child :
Software For Children :
Positive Reinforcement
Developing Motor Skills :
Kids And The Internet :
Motivate Your Child
