Going on a trip without a map, compass, or some sort of basic directions is sure to bring some frustration. Likewise, heading into parenting without arming yourself with some basic knowledge about general development, stages, and milestones you will encounter with your child would be discouraging.
Taking them time to educate yourself is one of the greatest gift you can give your child. They change not only on the outside as they grow, but also on the inside. Psychological development is predictable according to Laurence Stienberg, PhD. You can anticipate what you are heading into and thus be prepared!
You cannot avoid development, so get prepared so you can enjoy the journey. Be deliberate in your parenting but flexible enough to stay in pace with your child's individual development.
And most of all, remember while basic parenting principles apply to all children, it is up to you to adapt them to your child's age, personality, interests, and circumstances. Do this by discovering each of your children for the individual they are. You may worry how your children will react if things are not the same for each one. Children care more about fairness than about absolute equality, so help them understand as you make adjustments. They will respect you for sharing with them, and this will strengthen their own ability to adapt to situations as they mature. Most importantly when things go unexpectedly, keep on your toes by granting each situation surprise and curiosity rather than fear and disappointment, by doing this you can enjoy the amazing adventure that parenting truly is.
The following links are helpful resources to understand more about how your child works:
Children Age 1-3: https://pathways.org/growth-development/toddler/
Birth to Age 5: www.http://helpmegrowmn.org/HMG/index.htm
Mental Development: https://developingchild.harvard.edu
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