Five Things to Learn From Toddlers

I have often heard moms sharing their experiences on how difficult navigating the toddler years can be. I agree. This is the age little humans transition to pre-school years from infancy. While we are immersed in teaching them life skills, why not take this opportunity to learn from them.

1. Resilience

Have you ever seen kids deciding not to run because they have slipped and fallen before? Absolutely not. They run, they slip, they fall, they cry, we warn, and they run again. We tend to lose this trait of ours through time and concentrate on why we fall rather than looking forward. It is wonderful to be reminded of hope and resilience from these little humans.

2. Curiosity and the ability to Question

Do frogs brush their teeth? What did the pigeon eat for dinner? Where does the moon stay during the day?

Ever witnessed a barrage of questions from a toddler? How do they come up with such questions? It is really hard to get through them. Their curiosity and conviction amaze me. They seem to follow this rule — When in doubt, always ask. I wonder who taught all the kids this rule. Another lesson learned!

3. Communicating openly

They don’t mince words at all. What is in their mind reflects in their behavior. They absolutely do not know that judgment exists. I hope this open and transparent channel of communication of love, anger, or frustration stays longer.

4. Treating every day as a new opportunity

If only we could approach every day with the same enthusiasm as a toddler, life would certainly be more exciting for us. For my toddler, a new morning brings with it new opportunities to try the same things in different ways. Every day I get to witness these different play techniques.

5. Indulging in Creative pursuits

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort

Franklin D. Roosevelt

How often do you see children losing themselves in a creative project for hours at a time? Drawing, playing with clay, building a sandcastle with meticulous attention to detail. For some reason, as we get older, we stop seeing creative activities as worthwhile. How many adults, aside from artists, draw regularly? How many play with clay or finger paint just for the fun of it?