While it may sound odd to think about an independent preschooler, we really do have to start somewhere with teaching our kids to be independent. And we can’t wait until they are 18. Independence is something we have to build in our children as they grow, and there’s no better time to start than right now. So let’s look at age-appropriate ways to encourage independence in our preschoolers.
So what does it look like for a preschooler to be independent? We’re looking at things like dressing themselves, doing simple chores, handling some of their personal hygiene, developing social skills, and learning how to make smart choices.
When we help our preschoolers become confident and independent in these areas, we will have preschoolers who are ready to become capable kindergarten students. And this lifestyle of teaching independence will keep your child growing in their capabilities as they grow in age and grade level.
Provide a supportive atmosphere
Any time we learn a new skill or try to improve something, we need a safe space to try it out and mess it up. So let’s make sure our kids know that they can try new things in a safe space. Let’s teach our kids that messing up is no big deal and that they are always loved in all of their efforts. This is huge for so many child development issues, not only independence.
Another key part of a supportive atmosphere is a consistent routine. Kids thrive on routines (link other article). Routines provide clear expectations, security in knowing what comes next, and the opportunity to practice basic skills over and over. So let’s set up those morning routines and bedtime routines for our preschoolers. They produce confidence and security in our kids. And they build in a way for our kids to feel success every day. So routines are a clear way to encourage independence in our preschoolers.
Teach them how to figure it out
We can encourage independence in our preschoolers by teaching them how to solve problems. What problems can a preschooler solve?
Well, a preschooler has to get dressed every day. And learning to dress oneself is a key milestone in preschooler independence. We can teach our kids to keep their clothing organized so that they can find what they need. And we can help them evaluate what they might need to wear if it’s cold out or wet outside.
Personal hygiene is another way to help a preschooler figure things out. We can allow them to brush their own teeth, and then help them see where they missed. When there’s a dirty face or dirty hands, we can ask them to look in the mirror and see what might need to be cleaned up. This helps them to learn to look at their cleanliness on their own, after a lot of practice of course.
And when our preschoolers hit any other bumps in the road, let’s be ready to lead them through figuring it out, coming up with ways to solve things, and learning to handle problems on their own.
Encourage them to make choices
When we help our preschoolers get comfortable with making choices, we give them a valuable tool for confidence and capability. We can start this process by offering choices to our kids. For example, we can offer two choices for which shirt to wear today. Or we could offer choices for snacks or activities. Really, within each day there are ways we can give our preschoolers choices. And each of these choices gives us an opportunity to guide them and show them how to make a decision.
Some choices will be easy for them, and others will provide a teaching opportunity. Either way, it’s a way to encourage independence in our preschoolers. And when their choice doesn’t work out, it’s a chance for us to teach them some more problem solving. We can simply ask them what they might choose next time. When we have a problem, it’s important to know how to look for solutions. What a gift to give to our kids!
Teach them independence in social situations
Let’s help our preschoolers learn to be independent in social situations. On a preschool level, this includes simple things like teaching them how to introduce themselves. It also includes more long-term teachings, like how to notice and include others.
Another key social skill is the ability to participate in group activities. Often, preschoolers tend to do their own thing instead of participating in the activity. Some children even consider themselves to be more special than the rest of the group. While we do want our kids to know how special they are, we must teach them how to cooperate and participate appropriately.
Help them learn to handle their emotions
As our preschoolers participate in social activities, it’s important to help them learn how to handle their emotions. Our preschoolers are full of feelings, and we can help them learn how to handle their feelings. Let’s remember that handling our feelings is different from squashing our feelings.
Our preschoolers can learn to identify what they are feeling, what led them to feel that way, and how to appropriately express their feelings. Those are the three questions we can ask them, the three things we can teach them through, so that they can learn to handle their emotions.
The feelings section of our Signing Time Dictionary is a wonderful resource for parents and preschoolers. Quite often, a younger child is able to identify feelings through an ASL sign more easily than they can by verbalizing it. So another way to encourage our preschoolers to be independent is to provide them tools like this. And the Signing Time Dictionary is always free, so head over there and see if there are some feelings signs you can teach your preschoolers!
My Signing Time and Communication
We love to help kids and families communicate better. At My Signing Time, you’ll find fun videos and shows that help your kids learn in multiple ways. But we love to hear stories of how Signing Time helps kids to communicate. You can check out some of our shows in our Watch Free section, or you could try us out with a 14-day free trial. Yes, that’s 2 entire weeks!
So try us out, and let us know how you will encourage independence in your preschooler!