A recent article on the Imperfect Families website has some good wisdom for parents.
In this article by Nicole Schwarz she refers to the work of child psychology Ashely Soderland who is a Child Development Specialist. Ms. Soderland offers parents and caregivers some encouraging and helpful advice when you have questions about your developing child.
Here is the introduction to her 3 points:
When people find out I am a child developmental psychologist, they jokingly ask me if I can tell them the secret to parenting. I know they are half joking, but at the same time, they are wondering if I do somehow have special knowledge.
I’ll tell you right now, I don’t have secret knowledge or some ultimate guidebook for parents (wouldn’t that be nice!). But there are a few things that I do hold onto as a parent that came from my years studying child development.
These are things that have shaped my focus as a parent and that also give me a little peace — a sense of “it will all work out.”
And every parent could use a little of that, right?
Her three points are as follows:
- There are a lot of chances to “catch up” in development.
- The idea of “everything in moderation” is key in development.
- Self-regulation is the most important skill for children to learn in early childhood.
This article is well worth reading to ease some of those parenting anxieties about the developmental stages of your child
I might note that Ms. Soderland has made a significant point in helping children learn self-regulation. At Lakeside we focus greatly on self-regulation. It is such a primary skill that our students need and gain when they are in our schools and programs. Teaching regulation skills early in life will give children a significant advantage as they enter so many of the stressors they will face as they grow and develop.
Gerry Vassar
President/CEO
