I know so many parents who would say that they try to appreciate each child as an individual, not comparing them to siblings or to other children. Yet, in the same breath, they also say that they worry about whether or not their children are “falling behind.” If it isn’t important to us that children do specific tasks at a specific age, or follow some linear, arbitrary timeline of development for the sake of looking “standardized” in a culture that stages education as a constant competition, then the concept of falling behind simply cannot exist.
These same parents often worry that if their child has “fallen behind,” that it is a reflection of something they are doing or not doing as educators. I completely understand the fear, as it stems from a genuine place of love and concern for the well-being of their children. However, negative thoughts like these might be more of an indictment against one’s mindset than their ability to educate.
It’s time to make a mental shift and consider a different framework for thinking about growth, development, learning, and education. Continue to offer support, resources, encouragement, and guidance and it will be very difficult for a child NOT to learn…at their own pace.
