Why do we promote independence? I promote independence because I want my children to get 'that' feeling. That feeling of self accomplishment, that boost of ego, the sense that they are capable.
I feel sometimes in my home I am a little tokenistic in promoting independence. Often I give my children tasks just to keep them busy or out of the way. No more so than in the kitchen. Often I find myself taking over their tasks just to get the work done, to get the cake in the oven or dinner on the table.
Recently I have started preparing food tasks like this. All the ingredients and tools needed on a tray, placed on a low table. The kids cannot resist. Most times Caspar takes charge. Today there was only Otis. He couldn't go wrong. It didn't matter that the banana wasn't well mashed, it didn't matter what order the ingredients went in, it didn't matter if it wasn't completely mixed. Besides putting it in the oven there wasn't a thing he couldn't do - completely independently.