Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

I... was just starting to think in this direction. Babies (0-5) look just like, well... babies! And I keep thinking, as I'm reminding dd for the quintillionth time to _____, that she really is not necessarily trying to be disobedient. most of the time she is just lost in her own world. and since i don't know a whole lot about development, how can i possibly understand what wonderment her increasing abilities to think and imagine must be for her - and how it affects her ability to follow MY preferred thought process for her.
i had just decided that it merits allowing her much more room than i have assumed was needed for not "hopping to" and following orders immediately. i work a bit more with her, doing things together, or else allowing tasks, like picking up all the blocks she dumped on the floor to be broken up into smaller bits. ("ok, so pick up a few more, then it's time to eat.")
I can't wait to pick up some of the books and resources mentioned in this thread. I'm searching for them now!

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

:yes

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

:) :rockon

I believe that the idea of a 3-4 year old as a "child" is a modern concept. :yes

It does make me sad (and angry) that each time I was pregnant, my next youngest child (so, when I was pregnant w/ Simon, they said this to Gracie and when I was pregnant w/ Fiona they said this to Simon), people said, "You have to be a big boy/girl, now! Mommy needs your help!" Um, NO, they do not have to suddenly grow up because I am pregnant!

oops, baby is waking

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

Yeah the burden should be on the MOM,not the baby

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

I think about this thread nearly every day when I start wondering if DS should be able to do this, that, or the other thing by now.
This thread helps me remember to just drop those expectations and just let him be. I'm thankful.

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

Don't know how I didn't see this till just now. Pretty much sums up everything I did wrong with my (now 10yo) dd. It was refreshing and created a much easier parenting road to view my ds as a "baby" much longer (still, really, although it is starting to bug him :shifty) I get aggrivated when trying to introduce the concept of GBD to my (VERY punitive) mother's group at church and I always get the idea shot at me that kids "know better" from the time they are toddlers (18mos+) Mothers talk about "you know, when they give you that look, and they know they are doing the wrong thing, and they do it anyway" and I'm going :hunh "this is a human being who was just BORN 18months ago, has only the barest basic language, motor and mobility skills, and you are expecting him/her to have a fully formed sense of right and wrong??" :hunh Anyway, all that to say, thank you for this thread, it is very interesting and it's great to see the concept fleshed out.

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

I love that quote. :tu

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

Me, too! :tu Mind if I borrow it sometime? :shifty

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

:happytears :heart

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

I needed this threads reminders today. :rockon

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

Wow I really needed to read this - thank you - my first 'baby' turns 8 in a month......

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

Please do! You guys don't know how rad it makes me feel when people like what I say ... can you say "not validated as a child"? :O

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

more validation coming your way!!!

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

validation from this direction, too. I'm going to use that.

Re: A radical idea - viewing kids as babies till 5
 

great quote :)