Parents often think that by doing everything for their kids, they’re being helpful, but that’s definitely not the case. When you do too much, you forgo giving your little one the opportunity to learn a new skill—which can build confidence.
Along the same lines as “not doing it all,” it’s critical to let your young one try and fail at tasks. In fact, research shows that failing—and learning how to deal with disappointment—is critical to building independence and self-sufficiency.
When you give your child the opportunity to do something for themself, recognize it will take longer to complete than if you were to do it for them.
Kids, especially younger ones, want to feel in control of their circumstances, so they’ll often push back on tackling a task independently. That’s okay—it’s part of their normal development
Instead of pointing out the ways a child did a certain task “wrong,” point out the ways they did it right.
Giving your kid too many responsibilities and chores to tackle all at once will only overwhelm them. Instead, give them a manageable number of things to do independently.
If your child wants to help you with something—even if you’re mid-task and in a rush—give them an opportunity to lend a hand.
If you have a friend in need or know a neighbour who could use a pick-me-up, have your little one come up with ways to help—then follow through on their plan of action.