Independent kid is not a dream but a plan!

As a parent, it's daunting to manage your child's tantrums or make him follow necessary tasks. At times, we spend hours and hours to calm them down or ask them to follow simple tasks like brushing teeth! If these situations increase or go to extreme heights, the first thing most parents might think of is "WHY DOES MY CHILD DO THIS?" and "THIS NEEDS TO BE CHANGED".

Parents seek therapy or help from professionals to bring that change or understand the need. Once the therapy begins, we expect quick results! We might expect the therapist to "fix" the problem or change the child somehow.

Take a moment and try to remember the insanely famous phrase -

"It takes a village to raise a child!"-African proverb.

A village is not just a therapist, one tutor, or a parent. In the Nuclear family era, our "village" involves parents, caretakers, therapists, teachers, and friends. When we want to bring the desired change in our child, we need to build up a "village" for him/her/them. Make sure everyone has their role and responsibility to help the child settle in and be active in his routine.

As new parents, we grow with our children. We make mistakes just like our kids in the process of teaching the child. A parent might give whatever the child wants when he screams in public or when they are busy in a meeting. Instead, the parent can proactively work on the child's communication and follow simple techniques like prompting to use words, rewarding the child each time he expresses appropriately, making the child engaged by setting up a schedule for him when you are busy with work.

Such plans or strategies can be tough and it takes a lot of effort to actively bring that change in ourselves as well as the child. Think of the time when you were first learning to drive! It took consistency, active participation, and a good instructor to make you feel confident about driving. Similarly, when a therapist provides strategies like setting up a predictable routine for your child, it requires active participation and consistency from all the members.

The idea of making your child independent is motivating and perhaps every parent's desire. So let's make our own "village" and bring the change!