How can parents foster independence?

In my previous blog, we explored why nurturing independence in young children is so important. In this post, let’s look at some practical strategies parents can use—whether at home or during those morning drop-offs at daycare or a Montessori school.

We begin with simple routines in a Montessori environment.

1. Start by sending your child off with a cheerful goodbye and a warm kiss. This small gesture sends a powerful message: you trust the teachers, and the day ahead will be full of wonderful experiences. Children often mirror their parents’ emotions—if you are tense or anxious, they can sense it instantly. Your calm confidence helps set the tone for their entire day

2. Encourage your child to take off their outdoor shoes and put on their indoor pair. Choose footwear that’s easy for little hands to manage—simple Velcro or slip-on shoes go a long way. Fashionable boots with laces may look adorable, but they do very little to support independence and often lead to frustration.

   Also encourage your child to carry their own belongings—water bottle, backpack, hat, mittens—into the classroom. These small tasks build confidence and a sense of responsibility.

3. Once your child is greeted by the Montessori educator, they are encouraged to hang their jackets on the hooks in their little cubbies. Children feel a wonderful sense of pride and accomplishment when they do this independently—and they often help their peers, too. These simple routines give them a sense of significance and belonging, boosting their self-esteem. Soon, you’ll hear far less of “I can’t do this” and much more quiet confidence instead.

4. Children are then offered a choice: they may head to the Open Table for a quick snack or begin with an activity of their choice. This gentle, respectful freedom helps their day start on a harmonious note—one where the child feels content, calm, and ready to engage.

   As parents, you can reinforce this independence by acknowledging their efforts and encouraging similar routines at home. Montessori emphasized that the school and home environments should be connected by a seamless link, each supporting the child’s growing autonomy.

   
   

   In conclusion, when we give children the space to do things for themselves, we gift them far more than a completed task—we give them confidence, courage, and the joyful belief that they are capable. Independence doesn’t appear overnight; it grows quietly through small, everyday moments. With gentle guidance at school and steady support at home, children begin to bloom in their own time and in their own way. Together, we can nurture a sense of self that will carry them well beyond the classroom and into the wider world.

   
   

   

   A toddler hanging up her coat