At this stage, children are actually craving more responsibility and independence. You can use this to your advantage by:
- Having your child participate in household chores, such as vacuuming, dusting, and washing dishes.
- Teaching your child to make at least part of her own breakfast and lunch.
- Teaching your child to use a watch and incorporate time in some directions you give. (Such as, "You can go next door, but I want you to be home by 4:30.")
- Providing a responsibility chart so your child can keep track of the household chores he has completed.
- Teaching your child to think independently about commercials and advertisements aimed at children.
- Teaching your child to monitor his own TV time and video game time.
