How to encourage our children to be more independent

[HappyAvon]

insider:

I have a friend who stays in Choa Chu Kang and kids' primary school is within walking distance. Her kids don't carry their own bags and want maid to carry. The maid said too heavy to carry two. Then my friend came up with a 'solution' of using a trolley to push the two bags to school with the kids every morning...

Hi Insider, I really laughed out while reading your post...Just this morning, I told my K1 girl if she still continues to eat very little everyday, she will not be strong and will have problem carrying her schoolbag when she is in P1..I did joke with her that she needs a trolley to push her bag to school...Maybe trolley is a good solution.....kekeke....just kidding...I feel its important to train the kids to be independant....these days, kids rely too much on the maid....My K1 girl always call for aunty whenever she needs anything...With me now staying at home and watching her, she starts to do her own things....[/quote]

[Faun]

My son, sec 1, helps me to carry all the groceries/ shopping bags when we go shopping. He always insists. :D. I suppose he learns from his dad to be gallant towards ladies.


So all Fathers out there, your sons are watching you to learn from you.

I told him he can help carry any bags for ladies EXCEPT their handbags (unless she really needs help for some reason).

I think independence comes naturally when they don't get help. I'm sure most kids would rather do stuff by themselves if given the freedom to do so. Go easy on them, they may be independent in one thing and dependent on another. Although ds is independent in many ways, he still doesn't fold his blanket 60% of the time. I give up on that, at least for now.

[Faun]

My son, sec 1, helps me to carry all the groceries/ shopping bags when we go shopping. He always insists. :D. I suppose he learns from his dad to be gallant towards ladies.


So all Fathers out there, your sons are watching you to learn from you.

I told him he can help carry any bags for ladies EXCEPT their handbags (unless she really needs help for some reason).

I think independence comes naturally when they don't get help. I'm sure most kids would rather do stuff by themselves if given the freedom to do so. Go easy on them, they may be independent in one thing and dependent on another. Although ds is independent in many ways, he still doesn't fold his blanket 60% of the time. I give up on that, at least for now.

[snowman.022851697]

I started going home from school with a friend in primary 4. After that, I went practically everywhere myself. Credits goes to me studying my parents’ street dir. when i was young, now i can go practically anywhere. No, i do not mean asking your children to stare endlessly at a map.


Of course, my parents reminded me to use ped crossings, no walking through quiet hdb estates, ignoring strangers etc… i always take public transport when it’s past nine, or use my bike. When in public transport, i stand in the day, at night, i take the seat directly behind or as close to the driver as possible, for obvious reasons. Sometimes if the bus captain is driving recklessly i will get off. I was in that TIB997G accident.

Lastly, exercise personal safety. Don’t getinto fights, etc… there was a time when i was nearly beaten up by a bunch of secondary school students… the %&@&%^s would have stolen my wallet and phone, luckily, my fight-or-flight worked this time…

but overall, when you decide your child is able to be independent is totally up to you… and the child(ren) too,

[daisyt]

I have heard of kid at P5, maid packed the school bag for him. He blamed his maid for not packing in the correct books in his bag. :roll:

[quirkymum]

daisyt:

I have heard of kid at P5, maid packed the school bag for him. He blamed his maid for not packing in the correct books in his bag. :roll:

Yes, and my nephew's friend at P5 also would call the maid at recess and demand she rush down to pass him a consent form that he forgot.

For me, if my kids forget to bring anything, they have to face the music. If not, when they grow up, they will never learn to do so when facing the wrath of an angry boss. They must learn to be detailed and pack their things properly now.

[snowman.022851697]

I'm a P6, and no matter where i go, i can see my fellow classmates calling their maid \"idiot\", \"a******\", etc.. that's sooo wrong, the PARENTS are who the maids are working for, not the kids. besides, even simple tasks like, switching on fan/aircon, taking cutlery from the kitchen all needa be done by the maids.. this is far too ridiculous! If those kids wanna be like that then they should travel back into medieval times and have n servants serving them.. this is the 21st century, and they're young, they needa be independent! :stupid: :stupid: :stupid: :stupid: :stupid:

[duriz]

snowman.697:

I'm a P6, and no matter where i go, i can see my fellow classmates calling their maid \"idiot\", \"a******\", etc.. that's sooo wrong, the PARENTS are who the maids are working for, not the kids. besides, even simple tasks like, switching on fan/aircon, taking cutlery from the kitchen all needa be done by the maids.. this is far too ridiculous! If those kids wanna be like that then they should travel back into medieval times and have n servants serving them.. this is the 21st century, and they're young, they needa be independent! :stupid: :stupid: :stupid: :stupid: :stupid:

:goodpost:

Well said young man.
That is why many mummies here share that, when their maids leave to return to their home countries, the children start to become more independent and self-sufficient i.e. taking care of themselves and their own needs, instead of relying on hired hands.

Hope your PSLEs are going well so far