Think as your child, not for your child
A small mindset shift can make all the difference in your child’s growth
Connection first, always
A worried mom reached out to me: her 17 month old son was terrified of grassy areas and textures. Up till then, I had been working with this little J for probably 6 months, addressing mom’s initial concerns of him not crawling and walking independently yet.
During one of our sessions, I saw a moment of opportunity. I invited little J to come outdoors to his spacious backyard. I was intentional in making this invitation in a playful and pressure-free way. We started with something he loved - picking up fallen leaves and flowers. And used it as a bridge to venture further into ‘unfamiliar territory’.
Slowly, he began to reach further, one step then two, until he was gently touching the grass with his fingers. I watched as he carefully picked up a single blade of grass, as if taking in every moment. This tiny win was a big step in overcoming his fear.
Sometimes, what it takes is patience and presence to help your child overcome their littlest (or biggest) fears. From a “happy sitter” to a now playful running toddler. Today, little J is confident and ready to conquer each challenge as it comes, one foot in front of the other.
A mindset shift
Thinking less for him - “Oh this is so fun! This is for your good. You’re going to like this!” Don’t get me wrong, this may all be perfectly well-intentioned by maybe just not his idea and what he truly wants…
Perhaps, we can think as him instead. Think as our kids would - more “I wonder…” statements and suggestions. “I wonder how the grass feels for him” “I wonder what interests and fascinates him?”
I believe that it’s the rapport and trust we’ve built over the past months that has brought us to that beautiful shared moment of him facing his fears, knowing that we’ve got his back.
I get it - as parents and therapists, if we could, we could erase all their fears and worries, and hope for an obstacle-free way ahead. But here’s the truth, development and by extension, life isn’t so much about skipping past the obstacles or wishing the storms away but learning to strengthen our sails and build boats that sail through whatever storms that may come our way.
It’s about equipping our little ones with skills that enable them to discover for themselves the myriad of ways to move, explore and grow!
If sensory-informed, play-based paediatric physiotherapy that focuses on making authentic connections with your child is what you're looking for, Tiny and Mighty is right here for you!
