--- title: Tips for helping young kids find their independence description: independence, parenting image: https://blog.westtown.edu/hs-fs/hub/394143/file-2464127381.jpeg --- [![](https://blog.westtown.edu/hs-fs/file-2454828850-png/Westtown-Feb2015/logo_graphic.png?width=68&height=68&name=logo_graphic.png)](http://www.westtown.edu/page.cfm?p=1) [![](https://blog.westtown.edu/hs-fs/file-2451508821-png/Westtown-Feb2015/logo_text.png) Spirited Quaker education since 1799](http://www.westtown.edu/page.cfm?p=1) # A Well-Lit Path: A Blog from Westtown School ## [Tips for helping young kids find their independence](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/tips-for-helping-young-kids-find-their-independence) Posted by [Kristin Crawford](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/author/kristin-crawford) on February 9, 2015 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Kid_tying_shoe](https://blog.westtown.edu/hs-fs/hub/394143/file-2464127381.jpeg?width=163&name=file-2464127381.jpeg)Most of the struggles of parenting of young children stem from children’s fierce desire to be independent.  In fact, **independence is the work of childhood**.  From the moment children are born, all the milestones are about independence:  sitting up, holding a cup, crawling, walking.  Leap forward to learning to ride a bike without training wheels or jumping in the pool or go way out to the teenage years – one of the biggest milestones – learning to drive.  And what do you do when you learn to drive?  You drive away from your parents! In the early school years, the strive for independence can be time consuming.  Waiting while they button their shirt or tie their shoes or brush their teeth.  These are the little milestones of independence that bring a morning rush to a screeching halt.  No struggle with a five-year-old has ever made the morning rush for the bus or the car go faster. When we take over for children, we are depriving them of the chance to master a new skill or acquire a new confidence.  We also give children a subtle message that if asked we would not want to convey.  Underneath the “let me do it for you” statement is the message, “I don’t think you can do it for yourself.” Allowing for independence takes patience and acceptance.  In the morning, add in extra time for your child to accomplish tasks by themselves.  Don’t worry if the shirt does not match the pants or the purple tights clash with the yellow dress.  It does not matter.  Keep your head on what matters – they did it themselves.  No teacher will judge your parenting skills by the mismatched clothes.   Independent children are more likely to make a new friend and take an academic risk. They are also more likely to be resilient.  Independence does not mean you don’t care about others – it means you have confidence in yourself. Next time you want to intervene instead say, “Have a go at it.”  Topics: [Raising Resilient Lower and Middle Schoolers](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/raising-resilient-lower-and-middle-schoolers) ![Kristin Crawford](https://blog.westtown.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/trueblood-201986-edited-270384-edited.jpg?width=300&height=300&name=trueblood-201986-edited-270384-edited.jpg) #### Written by [Kristin Crawford](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/author/kristin-crawford) Kristin Crawford, the Lower School Principal at Westtown School, has over 30 years experience in elementary education. In her 25 plus years of classroom teaching, she led Pre-K to 12th grade curricular review work, empowered children to restore a marsh and woodlands, initiated programs for local nursery school teachers and pushed to add Mandarin in a lower school. A fascination with how children think motivated her to develop a physics lab for young girls and a design lab at Westtown. With a Masters in Independent School Leadership from University of Pennsylvania, she moved into Admissions and then to divisional leadership. Kristin says "By far the favorite part of my job is the children. Children always have their own way of thinking, and we adults don't always get it. They make my laugh, they make me think and they make me want Lower School to be the best school for them. When school is over each day, I want to be outside. Actually, I often want to be outside during the day and have been known to take my phone outside to the sun and air to answer emails." ### Subscribe to Our Blog ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [Inspiring the Best in Kids (46)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/inspiring-the-best-in-kids) - [Raising Resilient, Healthy Teens (29)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/raising-resilient-healthy-teens) - [Help with learning (19)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/help-with-learning) - [Communication and Children (18)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/communication-and-children) - [Raising Resilient Lower and Middle Schoolers (7)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/raising-resilient-lower-and-middle-schoolers) - [sustainability (4)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/sustainability) - [Building Self-Esteem in Teens (3)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/building-self-esteem-in-teens) - [How to get your teen to talk (3)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/how-to-get-your-teen-to-talk) - [How to Pick the Best Independent School in Philly (2)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/how-to-pick-the-best-independent-school-in-philly) - [How to manage the mood swings (2)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/how-to-manage-the-mood-swings) - [Student Life at Westtown (2)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/student-life-at-westtown) - [Westtown Picks (2)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/westtown-picks) - [Summer Camps (1)](https://blog.westtown.edu/blog/topic/summer-camps) see all 975 Westtown Road West Chester, PA 19382 610.399.0123 [Contact Us](http://www.westtown.edu/page.cfm?p=498#) - - - - [Apply Now](https://mbp.westtown.edu/SeniorApps/facelets/registration/loginCenter.xhtml?appId=AD) [Make A Gift](http://www.westtown.edu/page.cfm?p=979) Westtown School, a Quaker Pre-K -12th grade co-ed, private, college preparatory day and boarding school, offers a challenging and diverse curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, service and social action. Since 1799, we have been committed to character education and innovation. We inspire and prepare our graduates to become stewards and leaders of a better world. [Apply Now](https://mbp.westtown.edu/SeniorApps/facelets/registration/loginCenter.xhtml?appId=AD) [Make A Gift](http://www.westtown.edu/page.cfm?p=979) Westtown School, a Quaker Pre-K -12th grade co-ed, private, college preparatory day and boarding school, offers a challenging and diverse curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, service and social action. Since 1799, we have been committed to character education and innovation. We inspire and prepare our graduates to become stewards and leaders of a better world. 975 Westtown Road West Chester, PA 19382 610.399.0123 [Contact Us](http://www.westtown.edu/page.cfm?p=498#) - - - - - [powered by finalsite](http://www.finalsite.com/)