Ever wished your kids could work or play independently for a while?
Choosing to become a parent and/or homeschool doesn’t mean you never need a break. Yes, it was your choice, and you’re content with it. But being a parent doesn’t equate to endless togetherness; everyone needs some time to themselves. You’re doing your best, but sometimes, you just need a hot miniute!
Helping your children care for themselves is natural for most parents. But did you know there are ways you can assist your children in learning independently? They just require the right tools. And once they have those you might be able to have a quiet cup of tea in the sunshine or pee alone more often! Working from rest is something we parents seldom prioritise so, I hope these ideas help you to get things done and have a little more time for the things you enjoy.
Here are 5 awesome ways to foster independent learning in your children.
- Strew and Provide Resources: Leave out interesting materials or tools for them to discover and explore. From art supplies to science kits, access to resources sparks curiosity and encourages independent exploration. Strewing them around the home or garden instead of in one place says to them that learning and playing happens everywhere.
- Encourage Journaling: Motivate your children to keep journals where they can jot down their thoughts, observations, and discoveries. Don’t dictate how they should look inside. Your child should feel free to express themselves and their discoveries in a way that isn’t forced. They may prefer only to draw or paint rather than write or annotate – but that’s ok. Some children prefer to have several journals on the go.
- Don’t Be Afraid of Technology: View technology as a learning tool. Whether it’s educational apps, online courses, or virtual experiences, technology offers endless learning opportunities. Cartoons and films count too. Relaxing and feeling entertained is not wasting time. Children learn a great many things from the programs they enjoy. Learning to relax is a skill many people lack today.
- Say Yes More & Provide Autonomy: Empower your children to take charge of their learning by saying yes to their ideas as much as you can and granting them autonomy to explore topics that interest them. Prepare them for success by doing a “Think Through” first, helping them to consider things they may not have thought of before they begin.
- Facilitate Self-Directed Projects: Encourage your children to pursue self-directed projects based on their interests. Whether it’s building something, conducting experiments, or creating a masterpiece, self-directed projects promote creativity and critical thinking. Have them understand growth mindset by praising effort, perseverance, and resilience so that they recognise their own efforts and try again if something didn’t work on out first time.
I hope you found these suggestions helpful. Do you have any other ideas to share that leave your children happily engrosed? Pop them in the comments below! I’d love to hear them.
© 2024 Juliette Proffitt
Beautiful Messy Life 