The Benefits of Slowing Down

With things starting to open up more, let’s not get back to our sense of everything being urgent. Slowing down is not only important for you as the parent/caregiver, but for the child too. Adding the extra 3 minutes to let your child climb into the car seat by themselves and get buckled in on their own (because they are more than capable and excited to do it), will save you the headache and tension created by forcing them to do it quickly because you feel/are late.

Giving yourself the leeway to not feel the need to rush out the door in the morning because your little one won’t put their shoes on is equally as important. Take the extra few minutes to sit with them and validate that they really don’t want to put their shoes on. Were they in the middle of playing? Would they rather stay with you? Is there a peer at school being mean to them? Kids are not trying to defy you. Take the EXTRA time to allow them the time to express themselves and talk about what’s going on instead of rushing out the door. Of course if you find you are late, then start your morning a little earlier to allow for extra time your little one needs.