You Do Their Schoolwork

If you want to encourage your child's learning, there's no better way than reading to them. Regardless of family background or income level, children whose parents read to them score better in language, math, and thinking skills.

Most adults view chores as a tedious but necessary part of life. Children, however, are often excited and eager to do chores. Even if your child's enthusiasm fades, there are many benefits to expecting your child to do household chores. Some of the ways assigned chores can benefit your child include:

Though it's usually easier to do things yourself, letting your child help sets the stage for later independence. Young children love to help with cooking and other household chores. By letting them help you, you can boost their confidence while teaching them useful skills.

A routine is different from a schedule. Even if you're not a by-the-clock parent, you can establish consistent routines for your child. Routines are just consistent steps in an event, such as getting ready for school. When children know what comes next, they are better able to take on responsibilities. By experiencing the same routine every day, they learn to anticipate what comes next and do it themselves.

Before you can encourage your child's independence and learning, you need to understand what they're capable of. You'll just set your child up for failure if you expect them to do things they aren't developmentally ready for.

Think of the last time you made a mistake. Chances are, you learned from it. Your kids need to do the same. Trial and error teaches them how to make their way in the world. If you take over a project or task to "do it right," they won't learn how to tackle problems in the future.

"Get down from up there!" "Don't ride so fast!" "Hold my hand down the slide!" Would you bubble wrap your kids if you could? Turns out you can protect them too much. When you don't let them take physical or mental risks, you can stunt their development.

Do you still make your first grader's bed, clean your teen's room, or do your college student's laundry? It's time to lighten your load. Make your kid pitch in around the house and you'll teach them responsibility for a lifetime.

You stick around for drop-off birthday parties. You drive your teen to friends' houses even when they're only a short walk away. You send daily check-in texts (plural) to your college student. Sound familiar? If so, it's time to cut the apron strings and let your kids build some self-confidence.

If you shout advice from the stands during your kids' games or corner the coach to talk after every practice, it might be time to sideline yourself. Sports can teach your child how to deal with conflict, work toward a goal, be a leader, and cope with defeat. But it has to be their team, not yours.