Supporting Your Toddler's Independence at Home

You can help at home by always keeping an eye out for ways to enable your child to do things for themselves, Here are a few ideas:

• Buy clothes that are easy to put on and take off. Think of elastic waist pants. Toddlers don't need onesies anymore. Overalls, dresses, and anything with buckles are too hard for toddlers to manage independently.  
• Arrange their closet with a few choices of outfits to pick from. One simple way is to lay out two outfits for the next morning, or the night before and have them choose one when they are dressing up. This makes it easy for the child to have a say in what they want to wear without being overwhelmed. You can do the same for bedtime with their pajamas. 
• Make things accessible in the kitchen. You can put their glasses, plates, and utensils on a low shelf or drawer in the kitchen. A Learning Tower or higher step stool will be a great tool to have in the kitchen. So the child can reach the kitchen counter and participate with you in the preparation of meals. A Tripp-Trapp or a similar chair works great for toddlers to join the dining table, without needing to be strapped into a high chair. 
• Let them self-feed. A toddler shouldn't be spoon-fed by an adult. Using utensils to feed them not only increases their confidence but also helps them avoid food struggles and provides them a daily opportunity to strengthen the muscles they will need to learn to write later on. 
• Let them walk. Let your child walk, as much as possible. Let your toddler walk rather than pushing them around in a stroller or carrying them. Young children need physical activity to properly develop their growing muscles. Having a Toddler walking will also encourage their will to explore their surrounding while walking. They will have the time to stop and explore the ants on the sidewalk, and the leaves on the ground. This is a good way to encourage a child to be active from a young age. 

Independent play. Have attractive toys on low-open shelves. Get a few rugs, a low table, and chairs. Get your child started with an activity, then fade into the background. Your Montessori toddler will, over time, learn to play independently, without needing you to entertain them. Independent, sustained play is much better than putting a child in front of a TV or an iPad when you need to get things done!

-Cricket Classroom