3 Benefits of Raising a Self Sufficient Child

Are you doing too much for your kids? Learn 3 benefits of raising a self sufficient child and tips to encourage independence.

Raising a Self Sufficient ChildSometimes we assume kids still need our help with everything. We save them from every struggle, making it easy to overlook the importance of self sufficiency.

After all, taking a step back and allowing them to try is hard.

We save five minutes and tie their laces ourselves rather than teaching them how to do it. We avoid the big messes that follow when they feed themselves. And we feel needed and can’t believe how quickly they’re growing up.

The importance of raising a self sufficient child

But at some point, our kids are going to demand to do things themselves. Or they’re forced to, especially if we’re welcoming a new baby and need them to be more independent.

Thankfully, raising a self sufficient child also offers many benefits, such as:

1. Feeling confident

Imagine the delight of a 3 year old as she realizes she can wash, soap, and dry her hands. Or the pride in a first-grader as she chooses which clothes to wear for the day.

Self sufficiency builds confidence in kids. After all, independence is another achievement or milestone they reached. Being able to do something themselves feels gratifying, especially after many tries.

The opposite is true when we do everything for them. According to Sanya Pelini, Ph.D. in Raising Independent Kids:

“Doing things your kids can do for themselves teaches them to be dependent and prevents them from developing the confidence that comes with achievement.”

Your child can beam with confidence, especially when she gets to do what you have always done. Her self-confidence grows with each new feat she overcomes.

2. Saving time

If you’re like me, you’d rather undress your child for her than watch and wait what seems like forever for her to do it. Or she takes a good two minutes to tie her laces when you know you can do it in five seconds flat. Doing everything for her is tempting when you know you can do it faster, especially when you’re in a rush.

But in the long run, you can save everyone more time by encouraging self sufficiency. Sure, she might take two minutes to tie her laces the first few tries, but after a while, a miracle happens: she eventually does it in five seconds, just like you. By doing more for herself, she frees up your time.

I love that my kids can do so many things I used to have to do for them, like tying their laces, cleaning the bathroom, and washing the dishes. Yes, it took time to teach them how to do these things, but now that they’ve learned, their independence has saved me a lot of time.

Read how to encourage kids to clean up after themselves.

How to Get Kids to Clean Up After Themselves

3. Learning essential skills

We forget what our number one job is as parents. It’s not to make our kids happy or even provide them with everything we never had. It’s to raise them to be future adults.

Think about it. If, after 18 years, your child still can’t do the things most adults can, then that can’t be a good thing. Practicing self-sufficiency now prepares her for many of the requirements she might need as an adult.

Even as a child, she still needs to learn skills to go through childhood independently, from brushing her hair to problem-solving without giving up.

Opportunities to be self sufficient teach her the important skills she needs throughout life. Grit, perseverance, discipline, and a positive attitude are some examples.

Read the 8 life skills your child should learn.

Life Skills Your Child Needs

How to raise a self sufficient child

Now that you know the importance of raising a self sufficient child, what are a few ways you can practice it at home? Below are a few ideas:

1. Chores

  • An easy chore to start is having your child wipe surfaces. You can spray while she wipes with a rag.
  • She can bring dishes to the sink after meals. Teach her how to properly hold a plate so it doesn’t spill crumbs.
  • Implement a cleanup time where she puts away toys on her own.

Free printables: Struggling with getting her to do her chores? Want to develop good habits from the start? Grab your Printable Chore List templates to help you organize chores. You’ll also get my newsletters, which parents say they LOVE:

“Beautifully written! Thank you.” -Divya K.

Printable Chore Lists

2. Mealtimes

  • Encourage your child to take the next step up. If you’re spoon-feeding your baby, scoop the food but put the spoon in her hand and guide it toward her mouth. If you’ve been cutting your child’s sandwiches into bite-size pieces, slice it in quarters so she can bite it off.
  • Introduce new feeding items. Graduate from sippy cups to regular cups. Introduce a fork so she can poke food. And allow her to use a child-friendly knife to cut her own meals.

3. Bathroom use

  • See if your child can pull his pants and undies up and down to use the toilet.
  • Allow him to turn on the faucet, pump the soap, and scrub and dry his hands.
  • Have him undress himself for bath time and place his dirty clothes in the hamper.

Learn how to teach a child to dress themselves.

How to teach a child to dress themselves

Conclusion

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The thought of letting your child do things on her own can be scary. Between my husband and me, I tend to be the one who still does things for our kids. It’s faster and less messy, and I can do it much more efficiently than they can.

But that’s not the point. Raising a self-sufficient child isn’t about who can get it done faster, cleaner, or quicker. It’s about raising a child with the confidence and skills to do things on her own—no spoon-feeding necessary.

p.s. A fantastic children’s book to read about self-sufficiency is All By Myself by Mercer Mayer:

Don’t forget: Join my newsletter and grab your Printable Chore List templates to help you and your kids organize chores:

Printable Chore Lists

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