Independent in my own space

To avoid being constantly out of breath and stressed, don't be afraid to delegate a little and help your kids become independent. So we're offering a whole bunch of little ideas that will help your little ones gain more autonomy and independence.

A home for kids!

It's important for the home to be adapted to every family member who lives in it. We're not talking about putting a gate at the top of the stairs or “child locks” on certain cupboard doors! Rather, it's about putting things in place so that children can be independent in their space and make it their own, too. In that spirit, at Les Belles Combines, we really like the ideas of the Montessori approach, which is about trusting the child and letting them learn to do things for themselves. This way, they develop their independence, and it makes it easier for parents to entrust them with certain chores.

The playroom, their kingdom

The playroom is where children generally spend a lot of time. So it's important to understand that it's their place, their kingdom! It can be frustrating for them to have to ask for help every time they want a toy because it's out of reach or stored somewhere they can't get to. This situation makes them dependent on the adult, and that's obviously the opposite of the goal. So it's best, especially in the playroom, to keep toys at children's level. And, to encourage their independence even further, opt for several small storage bins rather than one big bin holding all their toys. That way, the toys will be better sorted and it will be easier for the kids to find what they're looking for. Also take the time to label each bin properly (check out our storage labels made for just this purpose!), so that everyone can easily tell what's in a bin and put things away without difficulty!

Also, if you have lots of different toys, don't hesitate to rotate the bins. When the kids play less with a certain type of toy, put those toys away for a while and bring them back out later. It will be as if they're rediscovering the toy, and their interest should come back very quickly! If it doesn't, it may be a sign that it's time to part with that particular type of toy. Finally, it's of course important to remember that, depending on the children's ages, some toys can be dangerous (ones with small pieces, for example) and that it's therefore sometimes best to keep certain toys out of reach of the little ones.

The kitchen, a space that's better shared

To let kids be more present in the kitchen, we suggest getting a step stool or a learning tower, a versatile piece of equipment that keeps the young child safe while they're up on it. A step stool lets a child, for example, be at the right height to fill their own glass of water at the sink, join their parents in preparing meals, and fetch things from the cupboards or pantry on their own, which really makes them more independent. Don't hesitate, either, to store cutlery in drawers or lower cupboards, so that the kids can get to it easily and can set the table on their own or serve themselves breakfast independently.

So, are you ready to take action to build up your little ones' independence even more?

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