One of the big challenges that Toddlers face each day is how to develop into that adult that ”they are to become”. They admire their mothers and fathers who are so capable in all the everyday little things that adults take for granted: fixing lunch, sweeping the floor, washing dishes, using a wrench or screwdriver—all the activities of “practical life” that are necessary to daily life going well. The little ones may also admire firemen or airline pilots but at this time in their life, they are already able to learn some of those more basic skills. In our classroom the children are in the beginnings of mastery of some of these skills. They are working hard at learning to dress themselves, wash their own hands, put on shoes, scrub tables, wipe the paint off the easel, prepare snack, serve themselves a food item with tongs, pour their own water, wipe up spilled water and there is still more to come! While engaged in these everyday activities, the child’s motor skills are being refined, his concentration is strengthened, his ability to finish a task is improved, his ability to hold things in his head is expanded while at the same time he is gathering valuable experiences related to how the world works. Keep your eyes open to how your child can help out in your home. You will find that doing purposeful things in life helps the child to feel a part of what is happening in the family. She gains a sense of responsibility and begins to take ownership in the family life in a new way. When a child is unfocused and engaged in negative attention getting tactics, sometimes a little responsibility will give the kind of affirmation she is really seeking at that moment. Being able to independently accomplish important tasks is a lifelong mindset that will be extremely valuable for your child in the years to come.
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