All by Myself

How many times a day does your little one proclaim "I can do it all by myself." From brushing their teeth to picking out their own clothes, young children are eager to learn how to do things for themselves. As parents, one of our primary responsibilities is to help our children develop independence and the confidence to try to do for themselves. As one of our favorite parenting mottos goes: "There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings." Sometimes, it is difficult to let your children fly solo, particularly when they are young and you want to protect them. But, fortunately, the process of taking flight is long and you can take it in baby steps. There are lots of simple things that you can do to let your child spread her wings a little bit -- activities that they will enjoy and will give you a bit of free time too!

See All 4 Gallery Items

1 of 4

Special Soup

ages 2-6

Supplies

Mixing bowl, spoon, whatever you're cooking for dinner

Activity Detail

If you're trying to cook and your little one keeps demanding your attention, give them their own large mixing bowl and spoon. Hand them the odds and ends of whatever you're using: i.e. potato or onion peels, celery leaves, pasta, etc. Add water and any spices you feel you can spare. Stir, stir, stir... let your child keep adding whatever strikes their fancy. Et voila! Special Soup! You can't eat it, but your child will have fun working along next to you.

See All 4 Gallery Items

Comment (4)