Fostering Independence in Little Kids + 50 Ways to Start Encouraging Them!

Last Updated on March 18, 2022 by Michele Tripple

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This post is sponsored by Eztotz. All opinions are my own. 

Fostering independence helps create lifelong learners. It motivates kids to keep trying when mistakes happen. Check out these easy ways to teach kids to learn independently. 

Why is fostering independence in kids so important?

Teaching your kids to be independent allows them to grow up to be self-sufficient and more capable to deal with stressful situations. It teaches them to try to problem solve on their own and work through struggles that arise. 

Essential tools to help with Independence

When it comes to establishing independence at mealtimes I always turn to Eztotz. Etotz is made in the USA. All their products are BPA and all their silicone products are actually 100% silicone. These products are made by parents (who actually used them to teach their own kids) and it is a family-owned business which is a huge bonus in my book!

Safety is always Eztotz number one priority! All their products help teach our little ones how to become independent which I love!

How do I encourage independence with small kids?

Encouraging independence with small children is almost harder as a parent than it is on a kid. It takes some patience on our part as we watch our kids work through situations that we can easily fix for them. It is never too early to start encouraging independence in kids. 

Here are some great ways to encourage independence in small kids. 

Provide Opportunities for Kids to be independent

We want to provide opportunities for kids to be independent. 

Independence in Babies

When your kids are little (6 months and older) we allow them to feed themselves through Baby Led Weaning. 

With the proper utensils like these Eztotz little dipper spoons, it allows them to feed themselves easier. These spoons keep food on the spoon to get into their mouth rather than all over the tray. 

Independence in Toddlers

When kids get a little bit bigger, put cups, plates, and kid-appropriate silverware in a place where they can reach it. We love these magnetic hanging cups for our toddlers. 

These cups allow my kids to get a drink whenever they need one. They find their color cup on the fridge, pull it off, fill it with a little bit of water and connect it back to the fridge when done. 

Allow them time to try

As we are fostering independence in our kids we need to allow them time to try. It is definitely easier to do it ourselves or if they are struggling to take over, but they learn independence by trying. Some things that you should allow them to do is

  • Do puzzles without assistance at first. Here are some great 2 year old puzzles to try!
  • Fill water glasses at dinner (love these non-tipping cups for the table!)
  • Put toys away in the right bin.
  • Undress for bathtime.

Offer choices

Offer choices to your kids, but be careful offering to many choices at a young age. Two choices is the perfect amount, too many will overwhelm that at first. Do you want an apple or an orange today? Would you like goldfish or fruit snacks? Should we go to the park or go swimming?

As we give our little ones choices it helps them discover what they like and don’t like. 

Create a routine

Creating a routine is the biggest secret to fostering independence. As we establish routines kids begin to understand what is to be expected. 

We wake up, we eat breakfast, we get dressed and we make our bed. A simple routine continues through the rest of the day. 

Then at bedtime have a bedtime routine that works. 

By creating a routine kids know what is happening. It helps them plan because they know. This also helps avoid surprises and keeps struggles at a minimum. 

Let them have time to learn on their own

While routines are important, be sure you plan time in there for kids to learn on their own. Let them learn through play and other fun hands-on activities. Allow your kids to make messes and then let them help clean them up. Creative play like bubbles, playdough, sensory containers is great to encourage kids to do. 

Let the struggle and make mistakes

It is so hard to watch our kids struggle. Like so hard, but letting them struggle helps foster independence and lifelong learning. 

Allow your kids to struggle through different tasks. Once they have tried to figure it out, teach them how to solve their own problems. The next time the problem arrises see what they remember and help teach them again. Eventually, they will be able to struggle and figure out the problem all on their own. 

50+ Ways to Help Create Independence in Kids

Dressing

  • Help pick out clothes (give two choices)
  • Pull shirt overhead
  • Pull arms through sleeves
  • Help velcro shoes
  • Take shoes off
  • Put shoes away
  • Pull up underwear and pants
  • Put clothes in the laundry basket

Grooming

  • Allow them to brush teeth before you do the final scrubbing
  • Brush Hair
  • Pick out ribbon/bow/hair accessory
  • Give two choices for how to style hair (in a braid or with a clip)
  • Wash body in the tub
  • Wash hands (scrub for 30 seconds)
  • If in diapers, have them get diaper and wipes when needed

Helping around the house

  • Help Sweep
  • Put laundry away
  • Wipe walls with kid-safe wipes
  • Sweep
  • Dust
  • Help in the kitchen make dinner
  • Put trash in the trashcan
  • Help clean up toys
  • Carry their dishes to the sink after dinner
  • Empty silverware out of the dishwasher
  • Help fold back sheets at night
  • Help make the bed in the morning
  • Help find groceries on the list at the store
  • Carry in groceries
  • Help put food away after shopping

Outside Help

  • Pull Weeds
  • Help take trashcans to the street with help
  • Help get the mail out of the mailbox
  • Water flowers
  • Plant garden and flowers
  • Sweep the patio
  • Pick up sticks that fall off the trees

In the Car

  • Climb in their car seat
  • Put arms through armholes of the car seat
  • Allow them to attempt to buckle harness

Mealtime

  • Choose snacks
  • Open snack (might have to start it at first)
  • Get a drink of water out of the fridge these magnetic cups are amazing!
  • Use a toddler knife
  • Self-feed, even babies, Check out how to start baby led weaning as well as the benefits of baby led weaning for more details. These utensils are awesome for infants. We also love these dipper spoons!
  • Drink from a cup without a lid during meals. These non-tipping cups are a lifesaver!
  • Clear spot after dinner
  • Push in chair
  • Wipe plate into the trash
  • Put dishes on the counter after wiping clean

As we continue fostering independence in our kids it will encourage them to be lifelong learners and never give up. How do you help your child become independent? Share in the comments. 

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8 thoughts on “Fostering Independence in Little Kids + 50 Ways to Start Encouraging Them!”

  1. This is such a great post with fantastic ideas and tips. I totally agree about encouraging independence in children and the benefits from it.

    Reply
  2. Love this list and definitely useful for parents of toddlers..
    I recall when my kids were tots (they are teens now) that each and every task they accomplished was a major source of pride for them (and for us too!).. my older one loved puzzles and he astounded us with his abilities to complete every one, while my younger one – well, she jumped fearlessly into the swimming pool the first time we took her to a class 🙂

    Reply
  3. Love this! As my daughter enters her threes, I definitely could use some help figuring out how to show her how to be independent!

    Reply
  4. These are some really great ideas. I really struggled with my older daughter in gaining independence, still do to a degree, I wish I had come across this post earlier!

    Reply
  5. Inculcating the feeling of independence during growth years, especially during the preschool age, is necessary. This is mainly due to the reason that an independent child is organized in his work which has a direct impact on how confident the child is among children his age. Thank you for these tips!

    Reply
  6. These tips are great and I totally agree, toddlers LOVE the feeling of being able to do things themselves! My daughter is SO proud that she can get her cup off the counter (she’s tall enough now) and get her own water from the fridge spout! 🙂

    Reply
  7. My youngest is by far the most independent. She’s had to do so much more for herself because my attention is divided and she really enjoys playing alone. So much different than my oldest.

    Reply

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