This month’s Wonderlife blog is brought to you by Shruthi, the Centre Director at Wonderschool Taylor, who shares the importance of nurturing independence and children’s agency.

“As a Centre Director with over a decade of experience in the early childhood sector, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing many precious moments of growth and discovery in young children. Among the many rewarding aspects, fostering independence and agency in children stands out for me. These qualities are not just about letting children do things on their own; they are about empowering them to make choices, take responsibility, and feel confident in their abilities.”

Fostering independence and children’s agency is deeply rooted in Wonderschool’s service philosophy, which emphasises our core values of wonder, integrity, respect and empowerment. This approach infuses every aspect of our program, from daily routines to special activities, ensuring children feel empowered and confident.

There are some practical ways to support children and children’s agency in everyday routines.

Create opportunities for choice

Start the day by giving children choices

For example, let them pick their outfit from a selection of weather appropriate clothes. This simple act of choosing helps them gain a sense of autonomy and a feeling of being valued.

Involve children in meal preparation

Children can help out in the kitchen in a myriad of ways, including helping wash vegetables, stirring ingredients or setting the table. This not only teaches practical skills but also gives them a sense of contribution and accomplishment.

Let children decide

Provide a variety of resources and activities, and let children decide what they want to play with. This encourages them to explore their interested and made independent decisions.

Encourage exploration and risk taking

Take children on nature walks

Not only this, let them lead the way. Allow them to choose the path, decide when to stop and observe, and where to explore. Simply letting children explore and find wonder in the world fosters curiosity and decision making skills.

Challenge children physically

Set up obstacle courses or climbing activities that challenge children physically. Build their confidence and self-resilience by encouraging them to try new things and take calculated risks.

Teach them responsibility and the joy of nurturing life

Involve children in gardening tasks such as planting seeds, watering plants and harvesting vegetables. They can delight in watching seedlings grow, connecting them with nature while nurturing life.

Build responsibility and self-reliance

Assign simple jobs

Any little jobs will do, such as morning helper, plant/pet caretaker or laundry assistant. Rotating these roles gives each child a chance to take responsibility and feel important, as well as contributing to their environment.

Guide children to resolve problems

When conflicts arise, guide children to resolve them independently. Encourage them to express their feelings, listen to others and come up with solutions together. This will help build their social and emotional skills so they can learn to recognise and manage their own emotions, and hold space for others in a supportive way.

Promote creativity and independent thinking

Let children make sense of the world through creativity and independent thinking. Provide materials for art and craft projects, letting the children decide what they want to create.

Balance guidance and freedom

It’s essential to strike a balance between providing guidance and allowing freedom. This can be achieved by:

• Setting clear boundaries by establishing clear rules and expectations. Children feel more secure and confidence when they know the limits within which they can explore and make choices.
• Offer support, not solutions. When children face challenges, offer support and encouragement rather than immediate solutions. This reinforces the value of persistence and learning from mistakes.

Fostering independence and children’s agency is about creating an environment where children feel empowered to make choices, take risks and learn from their experiences. By integrating these practices into our daily routines, we can help children develop the confidence and skills they need to navigate the world with independence and agency.

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