As your kids move from the preschool years to the grammar school phase, they’re probably capable of so much more than you realize! This is a lesson that a handful of working moms taught me, actually. As a stay-at-home mom, I was available to pick up the slack for my kids, so I didn’t expect or require much from them. But as I watched the kids of these busier moms, I realized how much better off they were than my own because of the capabilities their moms had, out of necessity, helped them develop. Here are four areas to consider for training children to be independent:
1. The morning routine. Some of the happiest (and most punctual) homes I know are ones where kids as young as first grade are getting up in the morning to their own alarm clocks and getting dressed for school before coming to breakfast. If you love waking your kids up to sneak in a cuddle or two—that’s fine! But slowly transitioning to a system where they handle morning responsibilities more independently will give a better start to everyone’s day. iMOM’s Check Check Done Printable will help you get started.
2. School assignments. This is an area where the level of independence grows with each grade level, but definitely—by around third grade—your child should be organized and responsible enough to write down his or her own assignments and tell you what the teacher expects (this Homework Printable can help), without you serving as the constant emissary between the two. Sure, there are regular occasions (parent-teacher conferences, etc.) where communication directly from mom to teacher is needed and appropriate. But push the responsibility for managing daily work and communication to your child, and you’re far more likely to have a kid who can tackle the increased workload of higher grade levels with organization and confidence.
3. Money management. Some of the brightest financial minds around, like iMom friend Dave Ramsey, tell us that we’re failing at teaching our kids how to handle money well in this country. As a result, they emerge into young adulthood ill-prepared and suffer needless and painful financial disasters. The grammar school years are a perfect time to start allowing your child to experience the relationship between work and money, and how to budget that money when you get it! Check out our Share, Save, Spend Printable and Dave Ramsey on Kids, Chores and Money for more details.
4. Personal cleanliness and organization. Establish household routines (try our Chore ChartPrintable) that allow your kids to develop good habits with regard to keeping their rooms, and themselves, clean and tidy. If keeping them committed to regular tasks like cleaning or outdoor chores is a tough sell, tie it to their financial independence as an incentive. After all, taking care of business creates financial opportunity in the real world, too! Building and reinforcing the relationship between the two will help them turn into young adults who manage their own homes well.
