Which of the following is a sign of increasing independence?

• A. Aware of pedestrian safety
• B. Able to dress and toilet by themselves
• C. Both A and B
• D. Has not yet learned safety awareness

Answer: (C)

Increasing independence in early childhood shows up when a child can handle self-care tasks and apply safety understanding in real life. Being able to dress and toilet by themselves demonstrates practical self-help skills and the ability to manage personal care with less direct prompting. At the same time, being aware of pedestrian safety shows the child can recognize risks and follow rules in the environment, such as paying attention to traffic and staying safe near streets. Together, these two abilities reflect autonomy across daily routines and safety, which is why they’re the best combination for signaling growing independence.

If a child only has one of these abilities, independence is partial: they might manage dressing or toileting but still need supervision around safety, or vice versa. Lacking safety awareness suggests limited independence in real-world decision-making.