Encouraging Independence for Upper Elementary

In an organized environment, children in grades 4-6 can:

• dress and prepare their own breakfast each morning.
• plan and pack their own lunch.
• be responsible for remembering water bottle, homework, take-home folder, and other papers that are due.
• wear weather appropriate clothing, including remembering to wear/bring a jacket for outdoor recess.
• pick up after themselves.
• allot time, and manage until completion, their book of the month report and project.
• accurately complete most of their work- plan most weeks.

At home and at school, children in grades 4-6 can:

• pick up after themselves (they do it at school).
• clean their rooms and help out daily around the house.
• take out the trash and recycling.
• care for pets.
• put away groceries.
• help wash the car (it transports them everywhere).
• help with yard work.

At home and at school, children in grades 4-6 can:

• write thank you notes for gifts received.
• exhibit grace and courtesy.
• use Conflict Resolution skills.
• help others problem solve.
• respect authority.

For children in grades 4-6, it is OK:

• for your child to learn from her mistakes.
• to eat whatever the teacher can find at school for lunch because lunch was forgotten at home or in the car.
• if the laundry is not folded perfectly or in the right place in the closet or drawer.
• if your child feels some frustration at having to figure something out on his own.
• to miss a favorite television show to have time to wind down and read before bed.
• to go to bed early to keep from being too tired to get up on time in the morning.
• to make two trips to move all of her belongings from one place to the next.
• to spill.
• for your child to feel disappointed because he was told “no.”
• for your child to search for something that has been lost.
• for your child to complain about doing homework and using the dictionary.
• if her projects or book reports look like she did it and not her parent.
• to forget his homework (occasionally).
• if your child is more focused on quality of work over the quantity.
• for your child to complain about taking care of his belongings.
• for your child to complain about having to dress appropriately for the weather.
• to not be able to explain all of the work done at school and why.
• if your child does not share details of her day with you.
• to have a limit on screen time during the school week and on weekends and/or not have screen time until homework and chores are done.
• for your child to arrive at school in her pajamas with a comb, toothbrush, and clothes in a bag.
• to be upset with a friend, and work to resolve the issue.
• for you to have different expectations of your child than other parents have of theirs.