The most important part of being a parent is bringing up your children to lead long, fulfilling lives. No matter how painful it can be to let them go as they get older, seeing your child become a happy adult is the most rewarding thing a parent can experience. In fact, if it weren’t for the significance of training your child over a period of years to become a well-rounded person capable of surviving on their own, humanity may as well reproduce in laboratories. The bond between parent and child doesn’t weaken over distance, so don’t look at your little ones and fear they will forget you. Simply teach them to approach the world as you see fit. Here are a few tips on how to go about raising an independent, healthy child.
One: Bedtime
Going to bed can be stressful at any age, especially for youngsters who want to stay awake and experience everything at once. There are many reasons your child might refuse to go to bed – they might be hungry, bored, too full of energy, or simply frightened to be alone in the dark. An excellent way of combating this fear is to find a nightlight that keeps the room dark enough to encourage sleep but light enough for your child to see – have a look at mom crib for nightlight recommendations. Children’s imaginations are vivid and have the potential to conjure scary monsters from shapes in their bedroom, so a nightlight can help relax them at bedtime. By teaching them how to be alone and go to bed at regular hours, you are helping them become more independent.
Two: Meals
Fussy eaters are common among children since they are testing the boundaries of their likes and dislikes. They are also testing your limits as a parent by challenging the food you bring them. Instead of bending to your child’s wishes and replacing any unwanted food, find other ways of getting them to try new things. In the supermarket, let them explore and pick out different things to try – avoiding too much sugar, of course. A good technique for persuading your young one to eat something they find unpleasant is to offer a choice between two items, such as a bowl of carrots or a bowl of peas. By presenting it to them as if those are the only choices, your child will feel in control when they decide. Similarly, if you want them to eat something they don’t like, ask them if they want to eat (for example) ten peas or five peas? Since zero peas is not an option, you let them feel as if they have agency while also feeding them healthy food. It’s a win-win.
Three: Playing
Especially if your child has no siblings, it’s vital you teach them the importance of playing well with others. Sharing, compassion, sympathy and being gentle are all lessons that children must learn in order to become independent, happy adults. Invite friends over with their kids and let your children interact. Even pets provide good company and social practice for your child. Improving these skills leads to a much more independent person.