In today’s fast-paced world, our children must develop the mental resilience to handle the decisions they’ll face as they grow. By engaging in interactions with your children, you can help them build their independence and confidence, preparing them for the challenges they’ll face when they’re on their own.
Consider giving them small household responsibilities. A couple of easy ones include making their beds or picking up their toys. Your role is to check with them to see if they have completed their tasks. Children don’t want to disappoint you, so expressing your appreciation, such as saying you like how their bed looks when it’s made and how nice it is when the toys are picked up, lets them know your feelings without creating any negativity. Of course, praising them when you notice they have completed a task builds strong social and mental skills.
As a parent, your role in guiding your child to solve their problems is crucial. Using open-ended questions to help them make decisions is a powerful tool for expanding their problem-solving abilities. This process can start earlier than you might think, as children can process information long before they can speak. You can start with something as simple as ensuring they pick up their toys before bed. Begin by doing it with them, then gradually shift the responsibility to them. After a few days, a gentle reminder is all they’ll need: “It’s time for nap or bed; what do we need to do?” They’ll catch on quickly.
Allowing them to solve their simple problems is also essential. Using open-ended questions to guide them in making decisions helps them expand their problem-solving abilities. This can start earlier than we think because children can process information long before they can speak. You can begin with something as simple as making sure they pick up their toys before bed. Start by doing it with them; the next day, ask them to pick up the toys as bedtime approaches. After a few days, all you need to say is, “It’s time for nap or bed; what do we need to do?” You might have to give a gentle reminder, but they will catch on quickly.
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Scott Smith has been in education for more than 40 years. Smith currently lives with his wife in Mosier and serves on the Board of Decoding Dyslexia of Oregon.
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