0:16 - It might seems funny, letting a 2-year old make decisions on their own
0:46 - One way we can do this, is with different activities that they do
1:03 - Another thing you can do is with their clothing
1:28 - Another way we can do this and we can also keep our children engaged is with food
1:54 - You're just gonna love how proud that makes your child feel
Hello, everyone. My name is Harper Jones, with Bow-Tiger and you are watching "Saturdays with Harper". And today, I wanted to talk to you guys about allowing your children to make their own decisions, even at the young toddler years.
I know that it seems really funny, letting a 2-year old make decisions on their own. But when you think about when they start school, which is typically between the ages of five and six, that doesn't really give them a lot of time to learn how to make decisions on their own. They're just thrown right into it. But we can help them, as parents. We can facilitate situations that are not stressful and that are safe, where they can make their own decisions and start to feel very comfortable with themselves and a little bit more independent. Which is what we need, when they go off to school.
One way we can do this, is with different activities that they do. If you're doing, say, an art activity. Let's lay out three different activities that they can select from and let them choose. Ask them, "Which activity would you like to do today?" And let them feel that they made the choice of what they were doing today.
Another thing you can do is with their clothing. And now, we don't want to say, "Just wear whatever you want today. You go ahead and pick it out." Because you don't even want to know what their closet and what their room would look like after that offer. So, let's not do that. But maybe, let's lay out three different outfits for our child. And say, "Which one would you like to wear today?" And let them select what they're going to wear, so they can feel proud of what they're wearing and that they selected it.
Another way we can do this and we can also keep our children engaged, is with food. When dinner time comes along, maybe say, "Okay. There's three different options for dinner. What do you think we should make for dinner?" And let them select from the three different options. Let them feel that they decided on what their family was having for dinner that night. And then, you can even actually help them, or allow them, to help you create the dinner, make the dinner.
And you're just gonna love how proud that makes your child feel and you'll start to see a little bit more independence within your child. And we really, really do want that. We want them to be able to go to school and feel confident with themselves. Feel proud of themselves and want to be active in different groups within school. And this is a great way to start that. Now, of course, guys if you're watching this blog on Facebook or YouTube, please be sure to check out our video blog on bow-tiger.com. And we will see you next week. Thanks, guys.
