How to Build Independence in Children Step by Step

Start by writing down what actually happens in the morning, step by step. Most parents are surprised by how many small actions are hidden inside 'get ready for school'.

Choose one step to hand over. Not the hardest one — the one your child is closest to owning already. Put a token against that step and nothing else for a week.

When a step becomes automatic, retire it and move the token to the next one. The goal is not a shirt covered in tokens; it is a routine that no longer needs them.