1 Make your home safe for your child Your little bundle of joy will always be in a mood to explore his surroundings. So keep the home safe for your kid. Your toddler may not know what to touch and what not to. Instead of running behind him, put all the dangerous objects which might hurt him completely out of his reach. Keep a lot of his playthings within his reach so that he doesn't get bored and is happy to play around. By doing this, you will have more time on your hands.
2 Allow your child to make decisions Give your child the independence to take the lead. If he insists on wearing his full-sleeved shirt in the hot months of summer, allow him to do so. Soon, he will feel hot and realise what he did was foolish. This will teach him a lesson and help him grow in life.
3 Let him assist you in household chores When your kids see you doing something, interesting like chopping vegetables, filling up a bottle of water or arranging the cupboard, he would like to help you out. Don't discourage him by saying that he doesn't need to do it and that he is too young to help you out. Your toddler may not be able to chop vegetables for you, but he will definitely be able to help you in getting the vegetables out of the basket. By doing this, your child will have a sense of achievement.
4 Don't jump in to help Be there for your toddler, but if you want to really make him independent, assign him jobs that he can do on his own. Even if it takes a little longer, allow him to take his time and finish his job. After finishing his job, he will walk away with a sense of accomplishment.
5 Show your love Every mother wants to make her child independent, but that doesn't mean that you will stop showing love and affection. Pampering your child isn't the most productive way to bring him up, since it might make him lazy. Displaying your support will help your child build the confidence he needs to strike out on his own. Appreciate him whenever he tries doing anything on his own and encourage him to do better.
BDST: 1525 HRS, Nov-09, 2014
