"I'm bored!"

"Come with me!"

"Will you play with me?"

"I neeeeeeed you!"

 

 

How often are these words uttered in your house? Many of our kids are dependent upon us to entertain them, mostly because we have taught them that we are willing to do so.

 

My oldest daughter thought that my full-time job was to play with her, entertain her, get her snacks and to serve her every whim within seconds of her recognizing said whim. Thankfully, after the arrival of my second daughter, I figured out the importance of teaching independence and self-reliance.

 

These lessons begin with very young children. Letting them play by themselves for a period of time, several times a day is a great place to start. 

 

As kids get older, allowing them to wait a while before granting their requests and delaying their gratification is a valuable tool. 

 

Also, when your child needs to accomplish something, don't jump in too quickly to do it for them, nor should we be too quick to solve their problems.  The more we expect