10 tips to train your child to be independent from 3 to 4 years old

Learning how to use scissors, tie shoelaces, and brush teeth are small things that have a big impact on training children to be self-disciplined and independent and should be taught as early as possible.

1. Use scissors properly

Although many 3- and 4-year-olds have the skills to use scissors, most won’t fully develop these skills until they’re older. To help your child remember how to use them safely, try drawing a smiley face on his thumb and explaining that it should always be in the right position.

To help your child remember safe usage, try drawing a smiley face on his or her thumb and explain that it should always be in the upright position.

2. Self-discipline

This is a simple method to help build self-discipline in children from a young age. To do this, follow these steps:

- Take a sheet of A4 paper and fold it in half lengthwise, then cut the bottom half.

- Place the stickers on the top and bottom.

- Write tasks that need to be done in boxes such as "Go to bed", "Brush teeth", "Exercise" and can add illustrations to make them vivid and easy to remember.

- Write a green check mark on the back of the paper to mark the job as completed.

You can post this to-do list on the wall in your child's bedroom to remind him of his daily tasks and help him stay on track.

3. Learn to tie your shoes

This is a small task but can train children to be patient and independent. To easily teach your child to do this task, draw a shoe shape on a piece of cardboard and punch small holes and put the shoelaces in as shown.

4. How to open and close buttons

You can make this fun toy to teach your child how to open and close buttons. Cut out a worm shape from colored paper, sew buttons onto it, and prepare small pieces of fabric with holes cut out.

5. How to determine time

This simple yet lively tip will help you easily teach your child how to tell time.

- Take 2 pieces of paper, write the numbers representing minutes (0, 5, 10, 15,...) on the first piece of paper. On the second piece of paper, write the numbers from 1 to 12 and cut them out in order according to the shape. Place the first piece of paper under the second piece of paper.

- Use the 2 arrows “hour” and “minute”.

- Change the position of the arrows and ask the child to read the time that appears on this model clock.

Now you can easily demonstrate the connection between minutes and hours. Simply bend the top of the clock so your child can see the corresponding minute number on the bottom.

6. Learn how to choose clothes

Take a picture of the outfit in advance and ask your child to find and put it on. A boring routine becomes a detective game that stimulates children's self-awareness in a fun way.

Take a picture of the outfit first and ask your child to find and try it on.

7. Remember to do things in the morning

Use different numbered cups. Cup 1 contains toothpaste and toothbrush, cup 2 contains towel, cup 3 contains hairbrush. By making each step specific, the child will not forget any steps and will gradually be able to do it without the memory cups.

8. Practice brushing your teeth

Brushing teeth is a chore that very few children enjoy, so you should find a way to turn this boring process into a fun task.

Draw a tooth brushing chart and hang it on the bathroom wall with crayons. Have your child color in the chart each time they brush their teeth, perhaps with a sun in the morning and a moon in the evening.

This method will help your child get used to a new routine. At the end of the month, you can give your child a special reward to motivate them.

9. Rules for playing with toys

Children often leave their toys scattered all over the house. To create order and awareness, try to designate an area where toys can be kept and mark it. Explain to your child that toys should not be left outside this area.

10. Make a schedule

A colorful clock can teach your child time management skills. By coloring the time slots and assigning tasks to that color, your child will easily calculate the work that needs to be done. For example: 5-6 pm is green for homework; 6-7 pm is for dinner…