I work outdoors. I teach children about slugs, snails, birds, trees, forests, and streams, among other things. Every so often I have a group that blows me away. They are excited about every single thing. They are so proud that they’ve braved the forest and the mountains and the tippy, swinging bridge and that they’ve come back in one piece. Today’s group was like that. Many of them had challenges going down the path – some had difficulties with their balance, and others were scared. Yet they all made it, and they all enjoyed themselves. They were very proud of what they accomplished.
This takes me back to being the parent of a preschooler. Preschool-aged children can be very challenging sometimes. Life can be very busy sometimes. The combination can make it hard to stop, take a breath, and think about what your child is doing.
The other day, my daughter gave me a piece of paper. She had written all of the letters of my name, and they were scattered around the page. She’s really getting into representational drawing. Another day, she created a picture of a person, complete with ears and eyebrows. This type of work is a little more difficult for her than for other children, so she is very proud of herself when she completes a project. She’s so proud that she shakes.
What simple things does your preschooler take pride in? Is it tying a knot? Making the letters of his name? Putting on his clothes and even doing up the buttons? Going to the bathroom and washing his hands with soap, without being asked? This week, stop for a second and relish your preschooler’s pride. As adults, we do these things every day. To a preschooler, these are big accomplishments, and they’re something to be proud of.