Toddlers are my favorite people for many reasons, but one quality of The Young Child that I absolutely treasure is their ability to be completely present. Life moves awfully fast, and I often find myself thinking about the next thing on my To Do List in an attempt to keep up. What will I make for dinner? How many loads of laundry do I have waiting for me at home? When was the last time I called my brother? Toddlers aren’t thinking about what is next to come, they are scrubbing the easel, arranging flowers, setting the table, solely focused on the specific task in front of them. We have something to learn from this way of being.
The first snowfall of the year is not just another day for your toddler, as they likely have no recollection of the white, fluffy stuff. Buds on the trees are exciting and new. Warm, sunny weather means we get to take our shoes off in the sandbox. Piles of leaves are so much fun to jump into. While each season brings exciting new aspects to embrace, there are sometimes challenges that arise as a result of your child’s ever-present state of mind. Just because you tell your child they no longer need to wear their hat and mittens outside, doesn’t mean that they will take your word for it. They are experiencing these changes in real time and often need to feel things out for themselves. With that said, try your best to be patient when your two-year-old insists on wearing their winter jacket on a 75-degree day. They will likely only keep it on for a few minutes before realizing they are hot and stripping down a layer. This “need” to wear a jacket may span several days or even weeks before your child mentally catches up with the new season. Your patience may also be tested during the transition from summer to fall, as your child may refuse to wear the things they need to be comfortable in the cold. Again, try to give your child the space they need to come to this conclusion on their own.
I make an effort to tap into the toddler mindset with each season, embracing what is unique to the different phases of the year. I encourage you to do the same. There is so much beauty when you see things through the eyes of a child. Here’s to a beautiful spring and all the seasons of life to come!