From an early age, humans seem to be on a quest for autonomy. Toddlers insist on holding things or picking food themselves. They emphatically announce, "Let me do it." 

The preschool stages are a time of burgeoning growth as kids develop the verbal, intellectual, and social-emotional skills to manage more tasks on their own.  

Developing independence, people skills, and increasingly doing more without mom or dad is an important and natural part of growing up. But what can you do to make sure your children are getting the courage – and if essential, some nudging – that they need to grow confident and autonomous individuals? 

One of the less debated factors regarding the "free-range kids" is that children can be encouraged to be more responsible and independent for various experiences and situations. Allowing them to walk to school by themselves or go to a public park at age 6 is by no means the only way you can teach them to be more autonomous. 

Regardless of how you feel about your children being on their own outdoors at an early age, here are some of the many strategies you can apply to promote independence and people skills in school-age children. 

1.      Household Chores: The key to Independence. 

No parent needs convincing on why it's crucial for children to do chores. Different chores teach both responsibility and accountability – children begin to learn appreciation and respect for the yields that make day-to-day life possible. Not only do they gain a sense of self-sufficiency and accomplishment, but doing simple chores now will set them up with valuable essential life skills they'll need in the future. 

In fact, teaching your kid how to do chores (and then holding them responsible to actually complete them) probably will take much more work on your end than doing it yourself. 

Kids have an intrinsic desire to be helpful and independent, and it's up to parents to nurture and encourage that. 

If your little one isn't used to that idea yet, start small. You get to explain and show them how to do the task several times before they're truly able to do it on their own. Leaving that aside, when your baby isn't a baby anymore and caring for their own laundry, you'll be priding yourself later.

Babysitting a Younger Sibling 

Taking care of younger kids or siblings is one of the best ways to teach children how to grow mature and responsible. Taking a look at the babysitters in your neighborhood, you will see teen girls and boys that are not only grounded and reliable but also incredibly caring young people. 

You get to decide what "babysitting" means for a juvenile person: You may want your 9-year-old to be in charge of playing games or reading with a younger sibling while a responsible grown-up is nearby, while someone else might decide it's fine to leave a 10-year-old with a 6-year-old sister or brother while dad runs the store of an hour. Passing the responsibility of babysitting to your older kid is a great way to teach them not only to be autonomous but more competent, as well.  

2.      Allow for Extra Time at Parties or Play Dates Without Parents 

The older they get, the less time they will spend at home doing things on their own. Parents know it quite well. School-age children will be invited to more birthday parties where adults do not partake. They will go to neighbors' or friends' homes to play by themselves with even less parental supervision and gradually decide how to play and resolve conflicts themselves. 

If your kid already has several invitations on his head, arrange for parties or play dates at your home and let them decide what activities they might want to suggest to their groups. Ensure your kids that going to friends' houses and summer days camps without a parent is something that will be enjoyable and that you'll be able to talk about and share when you pick them up. 

3.      Promote Independent Thinking 

Get your kid into the habit of thinking about things and building his own opinions on everything from fantasy stories to historical milestones to current news events. Discuss news events over dinner or while on the road. Debate on all kinds of topics, and always encourage them to show what they think about issues. When you really listen to your kid, you're proving to them that their opinions and thoughts are valuable and matter to you. 

When disagreeing on a matter, it's a good chance for them to learn how to formulate their thoughts and speak their opinions politely, while learning how to see positive aspects of other people's point of view. 
 

4.      Encourage Kids to Share and Cooperate 

A willingness to share a toy or a snack makes all the difference in how your kids tackle all social aspects. Studies have shown that kids as young as two may show an inclination to share with others – but only when their resources are limitless. 

That said, kids between the ages of three and six are often limited when it comes to sharing things that come at a cost. On the other hand, by the age of seven or eight, children become more aware of fairness and are more willing to share. 

While parents may not force their kids into sharing with certain kids, they can regularly point out sharing when they notice it.

When it comes to cooperation and its importance in social skill formation, kids must be assured that teamwork and everything job-related is better when everyone pitches in. Create opportunities for the whole family to work together on specific tasks that are significant to the family, and stress the importance of cooperation.  

By proving to your children that independence is a positive aspect for both you and them, and by comforting her when they feel needy or like they need more space to do things on their own, you're helping them become more autonomous at their own pace, with confidence and self-assurance.