Independence is the most important skill a parent can teach their child, but for homeschoolers it can be a bit harder. We're always with our kids anyway, so it can be hard to loosen our grip and let them alone for a while, but with a few sensible precautions and a healthy dose of trust, it can be an immensely rewarding experience for parent and child alike. Today, we discuss the reasons for being overprotective, the pitfalls of it, and our own experiences of and ideas for encouraging independence in our own children.