As we begin our final month of the 2025/2026 school year, I would like to recap a few things as we look ahead to the summer and the start of grade 2. Keeping this in mind, it is important to remember that being responsible and resilient are not something that happen naturally or magically because your child reaches a certain age. They are skills that have to be nurtured and practiced by experiencing life. I have mentioned previously that safety is paramount but if your child can gain an opportunity and learn a strategy that will help them, why not let them try? Adults have more experience and may have gone through similar circumstances so doing it for them seems to be a natural response. Although sheltering our kids from becoming ‘hurt’ is our first instinct, we have to allow them to experience the challenge and learn something from that experience so they can do figure out what to do the next time they encounter a similar situation. Therefore, we can encourage, guide, and nurture, but we should not intervene and do it for them. This is how children learn problem solving skills. How will they know what to do if they have never seen it before?

Allow your child to be more responsible by letting them do things. Do not do everything for them. Things such as clearing the table, washing the dishes, making their beds, putting away their laundry, tidying up their things or the mess they have made are ways that your child can contribute to the mundane things parents do on a day to day basis. Becoming responsible does not happen miraculously because your child becomes a teenager or an adult. Being responsible has to be nurtured, practiced, and experienced with guidance from the adults in their life. It may be challenging to watch because you probably can do it faster than them, but if you do it for them, you are stealing their opportunity to demonstrate responsibility.

Interacting with others also takes practice through opportunities that arise. It is important that we interact with others on a day to day basis as adults. This takes practice by learning how to navigate situations. As parents, we can not, nor should we, intervene when our child is interacting with others. Again, unless safety is an issue, if situations arise between your child and another, listen objectively (without judgement), and allow your child to figure out what they need to to do with your guidance and encouragement. If your child is unsure, prompt them with ideas and possible things to say and allow your child to verbalize and express themselves. If you intervene  and talk on their behalf, your child may appear weak. Give them support by standing with them, but allow your child to express their frustration.

Help your child become independent by allowing them to experience situations that will help them to grow and become resilient. As parents, unless safety is an issue, allow your child to face challenges so they can continue to grow in all ways including physically and emotionally.