Why I Allow My 5 Year Old So Much Freedom — Law Tzu

I allow my 5-year-old girl to have a lot of freedom. Recently my daughter asked if she could install a game on my primary machine.

“Daddy, is it okay if we buy My Baby Unicorn? I will wait very patiently.”

“How much is it, Nona?”

“It doesn’t say.”

“Let me double-check….Oh, it’s free? Go ahead.”

“Thank you, daddy!”

After this happened, I realized I just had my five-year-old daughter ask to install a video game all on her own. I didn’t have the opportunity to develop a sense of responsibility as she does. So whenever I get a chance to let her be independent, I don’t hesitate.

Nothing To Worry About Here

I don’t worry about her making mistakes while she installs the application. I trust in her.

Yesterday, she was putting together animations in Scratch Jr. She picked it up rather quickly. I installed it for her older brother. He has an interest in building games too. Nona, in all her confidence, found the application and figured it out all on her own while I was taking a nap.

I’m also waiting on her debit card to arrive in the mail from Greenlight so she can start buying her own games. If you are looking for a way to educate your kids and perhaps even learn some things as well about finance, Greenlight is a great option. There are others, but I plan to try them later.

The fact that I trust my daughter so much motivates me to be the best parent I can be. I try to do my best to avoid being a hypocrite. Asking her to do anything I won’t or can’t do myself is just ridiculous.

Conscious Parenting

Her mother Krystal and I are very conscious about how we support and nurture her growth emotionally, physically, and intellectually. I can’t take credit for any of it. The credit all goes to Krystal.

Nona is my second child, but Krystal’s first. I have a son from a prior relationship whom I taught American sign language as a baby, but that was about it. I was mindful about wanting to give my son the best opportunities for growth as well.

When Krystal found out Nona was on the way, she made sure I was on board with her plan. I’m already taking interest in conscious parenting. So it took little convincing.

Krystal was on another level though. I used to laugh when she would talk to Nona in the womb, but I later learned from a TED Talk how much that may have helped her.

How It Started

Krystal and I have chosen to homeschool Nona and that’s it. I taught her American sign language starting at six months old.

At one year she started watching Akili & Me, a Tanzanian education channel for toddlers, on YouTube. She also watched Rachel and the Tree Schoolers.

At the age of two, she went to a daycare that also had an educational program.

From three to four, she went to a homeschool co-op program.

Now at five, we decided to homeschool until we can afford a Montessori school for her.

How It’s Going

Krystal and I have put most of our efforts into creating a safe environment for Nona to grow and have a buffet of opportunities to choose from. The things I have learned as a parent are truly humbling.

Especially when it comes to how conscious I am not only about how I choose to parent my children, but also how I behave as an example. When I maintain optimal awareness of my behavior, it rubs off on my kids.

My parenting philosophy is that my kids are here to teach me, and not the other way around. It’s amazing how quickly we recognize the importance of perspectives other than our own when we become parents.

My daughter shows me that I’m capable of things so far beyond my own beliefs. Since she was born she shows me day after day how to tap into our greatest potential. Krystal and I have a lot of confidence in her success, and she knows it. I think that is the key to her high self-esteem.

Originally published at https://lawtzu.com on March 12, 2022.