Giving Children Space Makes Them Self-reliant
- By Rupal Jasraj Patel
(Child Psychologist, Parenting Expert, Founder of Only Parenting, Parent & Child Counsellor, Author)
When we constantly guide our children’s play, telling them what to play with and how to
play, we unintentionally limit their creativity. Giving them space to play on their own with open-ended toys like blocks, art supplies, pretend play items or puzzles opens up a whole new world for them - a world where they can make their own choices, solve problems, and explore freely. It makes them self-reliant.
A mother in one of my sessions shared that she felt guilty leaving her three-year-old to play while she did household chores. She would keep peeking in to check on her. One day she found her daughter creating an entire ‘zoo’ with stuffed animals, carefully assigning names and roles.
She also found her going through moments of frustration - the blocks would not balance, a puzzle would not fit, or a crayon would break. Thankfully, the mother resisted the urge to jump in and rescue her child. She realised that those were also the moments when her child learned perseverance, resilience, patience, problem-solving, and decision-making.
The child wasn’t just playing; she was building her character and becoming self-reliant.
Self-reliance, of course, will not happen overnight, but independent play lays the foundation for it. It teaches children skills that they will carry far beyond childhood.
