The "Do-It-Myself" Guide
to get you through the
Independent Ages!
My girls are
getting older.
With that comes
- this independence,
- this “I can do it” attitude
- this fight to have the power to control their own situations.
There is a fine line here as a Parent. Do I
correct my child for “flexing her muscles” and taking that tone with me -or- do I back up a little, give her some room and
brush it off?
On top of the
tone/coming close to breaching respect thing comes the fact that,
Well, Mom, your baby is growing up.
Tissues
please!
But, in
either case, it is time for your kiddo to gain some sense of independence,
whether we like it or not!
Here are some
simple steps toward the independence ladder by age:
 |
The best way, as I have found and talk to other
Moms, is to ask your child to blow out through their mouth, like she is blowing
out her birthday candles on her cake!
Then, have her close her lips and blow through her nose. Remember, praise
for a job well done! This is a HUGE step.
Age 3- you
have to let them wipe their bottoms by their selves.
It is hard to let the control factor go
here, but it is essential. As soon as your kiddo learns to use the potty, it is
important to start laying down the fundamentals. We just had our youngest start
Pre-K and with some extra work she is wiping herself, which was essential since
the teachers will not handle this, nor would I approve.
Age 6-
Showering solo.
This was so super easy
in our house. My six year old was introduced to showers early, like maybe at age 3- with Mom’s help of course and supervision. But, this year, as she is six, she starts the
shower and handles her routine herself, including getting her own towel. It was
a big step but to see her pride made it worth the new found independence for
her.
Age 9-
Applying Deodorant.
I have a few years (lord knows they go by fast)
before we hit this milestone, but it is important to talk about it now. Our
kids see us using deodorant and ask questions that we are eager to answer. Just
a tip, when you kiddo is ready for deodorant, opt for a roll on or a solid that
is labeled “deodorant” since they do not need an antiperspirant as an adolescent since it reduces the skins ability to sweat.
A fun book that I found for handling the delicacy of hygiene (for girls):
The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Younger Girls, Revised Edition by
Our best-selling body book for girls just got even better! With all-new illustrations and updated content for girls ages 8 and up, it features tips, how-tos, and facts from the experts. Girls will find answers to questions about their changing bodies, from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bras, periods to pimples, and everything in between. And once she feels comfortable with what’s happening, she’ll be ready to move on to the The Care & Keeping of You 2!
| Kindle Price: | $6.38
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