Here are a few ideas from preschool experts on how to promote independence in your child.

1. Expect more. In the preschool classroom, teachers expect children to hang up their coats and sit quietly during storytime. Expect the same at home. Raise the bar and your child will probably stretch to meet it.

2. Stop yourself from doing what your child can do himself. Yes, it may be quicker and easier to do it yourself but it won’t help to make your child independent.

2. Don’t redo what your child has done. Don’t smooth the sheets after your child made his bed. He will notice your actions and it may discourage him from making his bed again.

3. Let her solve simple problems. Pause before helping your child put together a toy. Character-building moments come from these simple problem-solving tasks.

4. Assign a chore. Confidence comes from being in charge of a regular, simple task like watering a plant or taking the clothes out of the dryer. Make sure the chore is “real work” – not busy work – because you want your child to feel like a capable, contributing member of the family.

Source: Lamb, Marguerite. “20 Tips for Parents from Preschool Teachers.” Parents.