Embracing Developmental Stages
Do you often look at the clock and realize it is almost dinner time? The day is nearly over but the laundry needs to be folded, the dishes need to be washed and the toys picked up. Your initial feeling might be frustration, as you wonder what you have spent your day doing.
Have you spent the day carefully watching your 8-month-old practice their pincher grasp as they search the floor for pine needles ensuring none of them end up in their mouth? Have you followed your 18-month-old around as they climb from one piece of furniture to another making sure they don’t fall? Have you answered seemingly endless “why?” questions only to have your 3-year-old continue to ask more?
My guess is you have done at least one of the above activities as well as many similar activities. While in the moment these activities may feel frustrating and repetitive, I encourage you to look at it from a different lens.
The work your child is doing is incredibly important. They are learning new things every day and practicing new skills. Look at their new skills as an opportunity for growth, a moment for you to encourage them or help them take their learning to the next level. Ask yourself why your child is learning this new skill. Why is pincher grasp important? Why does your child respond with why to everything you ask? These are important developmental milestones. The challenging moments don’t last forever, they quickly become a memory. Embrace the time your children are little and help them discover, encourage them and grow with them.
Here are a few great resources for engaging with your baby or child:
The Encyclopedia of Infant and Toddler Activities: For Children Birth to 3
The Wonder Weeks: A Stress-Free Guide to Your Baby's Behavior