How to get your children to think for themselves. I almost feel like my children have to always ask when or what they can do. I was thinking of making a big chart with days of week and make them figure out the day of the week and what comes with that day. I think that might help my toddlers 4 and 5.
My teenager...well he can think for himself, he just needs to think of the rest of the family too. LOL
I have a "I'm bored" list. It had great tasks like,"clean up bedroom" and "pick up the clothing in the bathroom". Funny how my kids don't ask anymore....
Stop thinking for them. Granted it will make for some interesting drama when they are teens about how pissed they are that they are self-supportive but eventually they become adults and thank you.
The best my kids can get out of me is decision criteria or when they are younger ideas. They had to pick and run. Apparently the mental exercise is is annoying to go through with mom so eventually they stop coming to you and think for themselves. :)
You stop doing everything for them. Let them figure it out for themselves.
The earth goes around the sun, the sun... the earth goes around the sun!
There are 12 months!
52 weeks!
365 days!
((Sorry, flashing back to a montessori song))
While kids easily pick up concepts like this, though, they usually don't think LINEARLY until age 5 or 6. In fact it's a MILESTONE when they start saying
FIRST I woke up
Then I wiggled around in my nightshirt
Then I got out of bed
Then I walked to my door
Then I opened my door
Then I looked down the hall
Then I ran fast fast fast to the bathroom! (Almost didn't make it! Well...)
Then I wiped
Then I flushed
Then I turned the faucet on
And all of this stemming from the "What did you do today?" Q after school or at dinner (and if you interrupt they will START OVER). Where they will REALLY tell you everything they did that day AND are able to outline what will happen tomorrow (Tuesday, so dance, and nana will sneak fries from McDonalds and say 'don't tell mommy' and I'll have homework and chores and dinner will be late and and and and).
So you may be just about a year early on expecting them to know that since today is Tuesday this, this, this, and this will happen.
Ditto what Jo W advised, stop doing it for them ; )
I usually put the question right back in their lap with a simple "What do you think?" Kids learn "brain storming" in school so I use that too. Let's brain storm. I toss simple thoughts out there for them to think about. It's easier to just tell them what to do but I want my kids to learn how to come up with ideas and think things through. Charts help too though!
K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
Now is a great time to teach the calendar. Get them a big one and put stickers on it. Show them what a "legend" is at the bottom. You go to gymnastics on Monday? Put a sticker for that on the legend, and on every Monday. Church on Sunday, same thing. Is there a song you know with the days of the week? (I only know the one in Spanish!)
When they go to kindergarten, they will work on calendars, and by you using one, it will be very familiar.
When it's time to go to gymnastics, ask them "What do we take with us to gymnastics? What do you wear?" They will think about the answer. Then do the same thing for other things you do in your home. That will help.
Also, work on little stories with them. A story has a beginning, middle and end. It's wonderful expressive language training, and helps them think in a line, so to speak.
It's a process - they'll get there!
Dawn
Every question your kids ask is answered with "well, what do you think?" or "you tell me" Never criticize wrong answers, children learn from mistakes.(so let then make a lot of mistakes!) the chart, calendar is great. you coul also do a check list for morning duties "get dressed, brush teeth, put on shoes" and have them check off each thing. Make sure there clothes are accessible, they have hooks at their height to hang their own jackets and backpacks. Give them 2 choices, so they learn to make decisions, this shirt or this shirt? brush your teeth with yellow toothbrush or green? put on shoes now or after breakfast?
