08/28/2026
“It is OKAY to do things for kids that they can do for themselves." - Sarah Rosensweet
When I saw one more reel from a parenting expert saying, “What are you doing for your child that they can do for themselves?” as she talked about her youngest resisting spreading the jam on the sandwich they were making for their school lunch saying, “I can’t!”- I knew I had to write about it.
Rudolph Dreikurs, a pioneering psychologist in the 1960s, said, “Never do for a child what they can do for themselves” because he thought that doing things for capable children prevented them from developing independence, responsibility and self-confidence. Maria Montessori said something very similar. While Dreikurs and Montessori were in many ways thought pioneers that contributed positively to how we view children today, I disagree with them and all the other parenting experts who tout the idea that we shouldn’t do things for kids that they can do for themselves.
I actually encourage parents to do things for their kids that they could do for themselves. There are a few reasons why…
Head to my substack to read the rest :)
[ID: Photo of a parent tying their child’s shoe, with the words “Go ahead, do things for your kids! In a culture that is SO focused on independence, there are benefits to doing things for your kids that they can do for themselves. Reimagine Peaceful Parenting with Sarah Rosensweet Substack”]