Brave New Baby
Compared to babies, we adults are sniveling cowards.
Yesterday, I received an “atta girl!” email. A friend of mine had found out that I’d recently conquered a lifelong fear: I sang.
Then Kelly revealed to me that she had also stared down a big monster: she climbed. Rock climbing, up high. She had clambered over her terror, to reach out and grab the exhilaration that awaited her at the peak. High-fives are clearly in order.
But while we’re at it, let’s also celebrate babies and their risky busy-ness.
Risk vs. Reward, Domain by Domain
Emotional Development: Everything is a new prospect for your new baby. Especially being born. I don’t know about you, but I need more than 2 or 3 days and an energy drink to pack up, relocate, and meet the new neighbors (who don’t understand a word I’m saying). Your child’s payoff for enduring such big uncertainty: secure attachment — the emotional refueling that will launch your baby toward feeling successful when she tries new things.
Language Development: Your infant doesn’t need a fancy foreign vacation to practice new language skills, she just needs you. In the early days of her life, she makes a comment about her needs (it sounds like this: ”waaaah!”). Her rewards? Your prompt attention, your problem-solving skills. As baby learns the household routines (and the difference between night and day!), she quickly moves on to other goals, like conversing and using every ounce of her cuteness to get you to speak up in return.
Social Development: At first, baby tries out a smile. Your loving response is all the applause she wants. The risks get bigger as she enlarges her world to include friends, toys, sharing, make-believe, as well as new rules, roles, and responsibilities.
Motor Development: Give her an inch, and she’ll take a step. In about a year or so. Wiggling her body, holding your hand, chomping on her toes, couch-climbing, feeling her own facial expressions of excitement or frustration are all important milestones in body ownership. When she’s ready, her first steps will propel her past fear and into the exhilaration that awaits her in your shoe closet.
Intellectual Development: Now it gets really simple. Her job description: insatiable curiosity, goal-setting, touching, dropping, poking, scooting toward, grabbing. Your job description: Safety proofing. A young child who takes intellectual risks should be rewarded with discovery, not mishap.
We would all do well to take inspiration from young children. They walk the thin line between success and failure with an amazing gracefulness.
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Carly Jennings | Parenting Skills | 
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