Ask Dr. Robyn: How Can my Child be More Self Reliant?
Dear Dr. Robyn,
My daughter often seems a bit timid when it comes to doing things on her own. She asks me to help her do things even when she can probably do them by herself. I admit that I find myself doing many things for her. How do I get her to be more self-reliant?
–Fran B, Brick Township, NJ
In this video, Dr. Robyn Silverman explains a variety of ways we can support our children in becoming more self reliant. Whether it’s in academics, chores, or new activities, building self reliance can be a gift to children. She fleshes out the following:
- Support your child’s natural tendencies to become independent
- Allow your child to be alone and do things on her own
- Model self reliance
- Give guidelines and choices instead of answers
- Allow them to make mistakes
**Please give us YOUR tips too!
Here are some articles from Dr. Robyn Silverman’s award-winning “You can do it!” series that supports the notion of increased self reliance:
- Introducing the Powerful Word of the Month: Self Reliance
- Seven ways to teach your children self reliance and responsibility
- Ten ways to teach children how to pack their own bags
- Ten parts to teach your children how to do their own laundry
- Teaching children to tie their own shoes
How do you support self reliance in your home? What chores/activities do your children do on their own?
Ask Dr. Robyn: How Can my Child be More Self Reliant? is a post from: Dr. Robyn Silverman – Child Development Specialist, Body Image Expert, Success Coach & the Creator of the Powerful Words Character Development System