My six-year-old son used to want me to do everything for him—from getting him dressed in the morning to blowing his nose. After his last birthday, however, he has developed a desire for independence. He now insists on doing things for himself and often gets livid if you offer assistance.

While my husband and I don’t mind allowing him some freedom, there are certain tasks that we like to have some supervision over. Last week, for example, he tried to pour himself a glass of juice only to have the two-liter container slip from his hands and flood the kitchen with sugary liquid. After this little debacle, we invested in a twist and spout to give him more control when he pours.