Fostering Independence and Empowering Our Children (A compilation)

We have written several posts about ways to instill capability in our children.  When we provide an environment where they can succeed independently, we send so many wonderful underlying messages to them - you are capable, you are worthy, etc.  Giving children choices and power over their world translates in to happy, confident toddlers as well as less power struggles and challenging behaviors.  Here is a compilation of ideas we implement for our children - ranging from ages 7 months to 3 years old.

Accessible and organized clothes....

We hung an extra bar low in my son's closet for easy access to shirts

My son's platform bed has drawers - organized for easy access.

My husband built a shoe rack in our garage where we organize our shoes.  My son's shoes are kept at his height - easy to find, easy to access.

We added hooks low in the entry hall closet for easy access to his jackets

Organized living.....

(Organized, clutter-free spaces lead to organized minds)

My son has his plates, bowls, and utensils in a low drawer where he can access them himself.

We do all of our laundry together - there is no reason to separate anything except into colors, whites, and towels.  I have two baskets in the bottom of the linen closet - one for colors, one for whites - my son puts his dirty clothes in the baskets and has been known to pull them down to the washer to do a load on his own - he's 3.

In another linen closet I have a basket for towels

Glue a CD sleeve inside the book to hold its Audio CD

I don't use this (I did in my classroom when I was teaching, though), but a great way to organize books on tape/CD is by using Ziploc bags.  Easily accessible to the child.

OR

My son has full  access to a CD player and his CDs.  To help him be successful I print the images on sticker paper and stick them to the CDs.

Here is a closer look

Put books on child's level

We installed an extendable shower head so my son can wash his hair independently.

Provide them with stools and such so they can make their own meals.

Tie yarn around doors to allow them to open them.

Make language magnets of food to give them choices.

Give them rhythm charts to allow them some control over planning their day.

Organize snack and have them at child level to give them power over their own eating.

Lastly, and mostly because we just love it, we installed kid friendly toilet seats to offer comfort......





Im sure looking at this some people are thinking - wow, that's so anal - poor kids.  However, its not like we run a boot camp here.  Our children appreciate these opportunities to be independent and we are always there to lend a hand on days where they are feeling less than confident about their abilities.  Imagine living in a home where you can't touch or reach a thing and cant do anything for yourself.  Our homes belong to our children just as much as they do to us.  We are a team and we all help each other.  :)

- AK (MESE, MECD)

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