YOUR FORUM FOR PLAY, SPORTS UND LEISURE AREAS
A child’s life is full of challenges. And sometimes parents themselves aren’t entirely sure whether they can leave venturous matters in the hands of their children. What is quite clear: The pace and intensity with which the little ones develop their skills are very much varied. Whether a child can do specific things depends on his or her physical condition and his or her assertiveness. Experts explain when children are ready for them and how parents can help their children to cope with them.
Climbing high
From the outset, babies have an inner drive to move about and get their bearings in the room. Shortly after they can crawl, they then want to climb. “Children need practice with this,” explains Professor Ulrike Zach, Development Psychologist at the University of Applied Sciences in Frankfurt am Main. Parents are supposed to give them free space – whether it’s an18-month old climbing over the toy box, then the chair before hanging from the table or a four-year-old wanting to climb to the top of the playground equipment. Adults should stay there to catch the child in case of a fall, but certainly not steady him or her or lift him or her to the desired area. Better: Guiding your daughter or son to reflect for him or herself where this or that step leads to. Of course that doesn’t rule out giving tips as to where the feet go on the way to the top.
“How high can I go? And how do I get down again?” A child is less likely to be able to assess his or her own abilities and fears appropriately to some extent, Development Psychologist Zach is convinced. “A child feels more secure when entering new territory.” Reinforce to him or her that they should only climb up as high where they can still get down by themselves.
Into the water
(…) Development experts advise parents to put even very small children in water to play and have fun as often as possible. This supports them in their motor and mental development, and learning to swim is made easier later on. It’s not compulsory to take part in a baby swimming course to do this, stresses Dr. Heinz Krombholz, Expert for the development and promotion of exercise at the State Institute of Early Childhood Research (IFP) in Munich. “Even in a swimming pool and in the bathtub, a child can have good, important experiences with water,” says the expert. “For example, making bubbles in the water, holding his or her breath and learning to assess their own movements.”
(Baby und Familie of 18 November 2009 – by Barbara Erbe)
