The more students can take control over their learning, the more engaged they are. Freedom to choose what and how they learn makes it more interesting for them and let them invest more in the learning outcome. Even little steps like control over the correction process or the choice of their partners will help let them stay involved. In Preschool and Kindergarten, where the attention span of the students can be as short as 10 seconds, choice is the basis of successful learning. Outside of school, children should be given more responsibility to develop their independence. They could choose weekly household chores like bringing down the trash, cleaning the bathroom and cooking a dinner of their choice. The more serious a task, the more will the child develop. Pets also serve the same purpose. As the animal depends solely on the child for survival, the child has to become a reliable caregiver and overcome forgetfulness, laziness and unreliability. Nevertheless, the children should be supported in the learning process by being helped or reminded in the beginning. A good start is to make them responsible owners of a plant, in particular fruit plants. In safe areas, children should be given the possibility to walk to school on their own, as is common in safe areas in the Nordic countries and Germany, or go alone to the grocery store or to their friends’ house if in the neighborhood.
Pets of all kinds help children bond emotionally and take responsibility as the pets are solely dependent on the children. In school, the care can be divided in many smaller tasks so that the work is not too overwhelming. Pets also help children better understand the life cycle from a baby or young animal to death as the life span of animals is often very short.
Getting used to knives to cut fruit is a big step in the life of a preschooler and boosts his/her feeling of importance and independence, especially if the result is a yummy fruit salad for the whole class.
Preparing a meal for a whole group of students can be a very stimulating and rewarding task that involves measuring, weighing, tasting and a whole lot of endurance.
Reflection is a time for quiet thoughts and wishes and perhaps the best time to introduce a child to candles and matches. Danger and the successful handling of it symbolizes growing up and enhances the child’s self-esteem and independence.
The same is true of sports like archery, horseback riding or boating as all of them demand a certain responsibility in action so that no one gets hurt.
Free unstructured time is a must in every child’s development. During this time, the child will learn to create space and time according to his or her own liking, a prerequisite for good time management. Free time also supports creativity as the child is free to put his or her own ideas into action.
By celebrating a graduation at the end of a school year, teachers and family show in public how much the efforts of the child mean to them. This respect for the child’s hard work helps create the self-esteem necessary to trust in him- or herself and to handle more independence.