By Eugene Johnson/The Torch
eugenejohnson@lcctorch.com
Children can be trying at times when choices need to be made. Knowing that they are learning to have an opinion can relieve the stress that comes from meltdowns.
The other night, the family and I decided to go for a night walk. My three-year-old son, Ezra, wanted to ride his scooter. I said that in order to ride at night he must have a headlight and a taillight. There was going to be none of that according to him because he felt he didn’t need them.
We’ve all been there. Where they either are safe or not do it at all. It’s these moments we must remind ourselves that this little person needs to be able to form an opinion as to why things have to be a certain way.
Still, pushing his lightless scooter towards the driveway, I reminded him that he needed the lights in order to go. He wanted to do it his way and quickly took off down the dark driveway only to realize he couldn’t see very well.
Ezra quickly turned around and said, “Maybe a light would be helpful.”
That’s exactly what was explained to him five minutes prior. Once again, after he saw for himself that he literally couldn’t see, he figured out how to make an opinion as to whether he wanted to see or not.
Getting Ezra up in the morning for preschool can be the same way. He tells me something like “there is a monster on the roof and it’s scary.” I comfort him by saying the monster will be done cleaning the roof by the time we get there, and we then can continue to get ready to go. After about fifteen minutes being awake, he quickly forgets about the monster and realizes he likes his school, and wants to get there in an instant.
These moments can challenge the most patient of parents to their wits end. Letting your young child form opinions about issues like the ones above, will help them form more calculated opinions in the future.
We all remember our parents telling us to wear a coat because it’s cold out and thinking “they’re crazy” and then finding out they weren’t so crazy after all as we shiver our teeth loose.
As for the night walk, Ezra enjoyed having the lights on his scooter and he told me, “Thank you for putting them on, Papa.”
