"I can do it by myself..."

...is my almost 3 year old's new favorite phrase. Although not perfect, she has attempted and done a great job at:



-Putting on her shoes.
-Washing her hands.
-Feeding her little sister with a spoon.
-Making herself a ppj sandwich (she loves these!)
-Getting herself a cup of water by pulling her chair to the sink to stand on.

When she asked me if she could do these things by herself, my first instinct was to say no because of all the possible messes that could potentially be made and the extra time it would take for me to clean it, help her and/or go behind her to cover anything she missed. But, I realized if I don't let her try, she won't learn! Now, I amazed at all the new things she is learning to do.

I read an article at Ask Dr. Sears.com on this subject and found this part to be very interesting:

"By age three, a child's imagination and creativity will allow him to be able to have fun with anything. Keep toys simple and basic – building blocks, balls, dolls and blankets, cars and trucks (no batteries, please). A four-year-old alone in a room with nothing to play with will figure out how to use shoes and socks as cars and people or as cradles and dolls.

By the time your child is six, you will have reached what one psychologist we talked to calls "planned detachment." Your child will check in for breakfast, be out the door, check in for lunch, and be gone again. You'll say "You're looking well, dear," you'll write a note to remind him of chores, and finally at dinner you'll get to talk some. After dinner some card playing, singing, or other family-oriented activity reconnects you with the individual who used to stick to you like Velcro."

What! Is he serious? Is he saying that this same little person who person who once needed me for EVERYTHING, followed me around all day from room to room, literally held me at the ankle while I washed dishes, and now calls my name every 5 minutes will turn 6 and then become so engulfed in her own doings that she will only check in with me from time to time?! I don't know if I believe that one. What do you think?