Does any of the following sounds familiar?
- Tucks at you wanting to put laundry in the machine
- Wants to set the dinner table with you
- Wants to water the plants
- Even tries to take out his own clothes
- Picks up random objects and keeps them in place, just like you do
Yes, fulfilling tasks might take longer than usual, but this age group overwhelmingly wants to help!
By purposefully involving your toddlers in the visible tasks of helping with the household chores, if they want to, will be freeing. You no longer have to figure out ways to keep them excluded from tasks. You will become more of a team, and your little adult will feel it as well.
Let’s understand why:
From an emotional perspective, encouraging independence not only helps in building self-confidence but also instills self-efficacy – a sense of “I can do it!” It also shows your child that you are trusting of and confident in them.
From a behavioral perspective, letting your child do things for themselves or for you and be an active participant in the daily lifestyle helps giving them a sense of independence and pride. Toddlers in their dramatic ways push for their natural developmental phase as tiny humans and as per experts it’s best to let them have this sense of autonomy and control which also possibly leads to reduction in display of problematic behaviors by them.
From lingual development perspective, engaging the child in the everyday tasks gives you a So much to converse with them. Daily Routine chores lead to repetition of certain words and your offspring unknowingly picks many words. She/he probably points, or gestures in some way to your questions or tries to imitate the words thereby portraying receptive language skills!
From a sensory motor development perspective, letting your toddler explore the surroundings enables them to develop their sense of touch, feel, smell and develop strength and co-ordination skills. E.g. – how much force and motor they need to open a cabinet vs a container vs a refrigerator. The balancing act while helping to pick up toys or laundry. The feeling of wet soggy sponge/cloth to wipe the table.
Practical Parenting Perspective, it keeps the little one busy while you are on your toes with daily activities. Things might get a little messy but helps you retain your sanity and at the same time instigates a sense of joy and achievement to your munchkin.
Ways to support Independence:
1. You show and let them finish
Applicable for easily doable activities: Help them slip of their shoes, collecting things in a basket, open the head of the banana and then let them peel the rest of it. Slightly open a container and then let them open the rest. Let there be several hits and misses, allow them to learn and unlearn. Just watch them from a distance to ensure their safety
2. Let them start and you finish
This approach is suitable for activities which needs to be done with precision. For e.g. – let them start with brushing their teeth and then you finish off with a thorough rinsing. Letting them wipe the spilled water on the table and then you properly dry wipe it. Let them try putting on their clothes or apply moisturizer and then you finally put them on properly. Let them begin eating their meals and you finish them as they wander off.
3. Let’s do it together
Let them pitch in and enjoy the priceless joy on their faces Bath time is a great activity to do together and bond over it. You can also get them to learn body parts in the process!! Watering the plants to ensure the little one doesn’t pour too much of it. Arranging their closet or packing bags for a trip. Ask them to get their stuff one by one and you can properly arrange them
4. You demonstrate and the let them try
How to switch on a fan/light. Putting fruits in a fruit basket. Unzip the jacket, Pull up pants, wipe his hands face post meals, open/shuts doors carefully, pour water from pitcher to glass, transfer contents from container to a bowl/dish. Resist the urge to jump in. Instead show confidence them and cheer them to finish the task.
5. Let them pick
Allow them to take the lead, voice their opinion. The simple act of making choices helps them grow into a confident adult. Give them option to choose between two story books, toys, pair of clothes, to snacks and the likes.
PS – Do not miss an opportunity to praise your tiny adult each time she/he accomplishes the task successfully and merrily.