The other day, I was walking down the street with my daughter and realized that, unintentionally, I kept trying to get her to move faster. Sometimes, when I asked her, she would speed up, but other times, she wouldn’t. Then I noticed what was happening: I realized that little ones don’t see a walk as a task but as an opportunity to explore, play, and learn. And while, of course, it’s sometimes necessary to be on time, we need to teach them to enjoy the journey, not just the destination. Sometimes, it’s enough to stop looking at the clock and allow ourselves to enjoy these moments as a family.
Hurry is part of our daily lives, but have you stopped to think about how it affects your little one? Kids don’t understand adults’ sense of urgency or the concept of “being late.” We rush so much that we pass on anxiety and teach them that what matters is finishing quickly, not enjoying the process.
What can we do to reduce hurry and daily stress?
- Plan ahead: get school bags and clothes ready the night before. You can do it together!
- Respect their pace: let them take their time to explore, like stopping to pick up a leaf from the ground.
- Avoid doing things for them: sometimes doing things for them to save time only reinforces anxiety. Give them time to learn and do things on their own.
- Music to reduce stress: include music in daily routines to help them relax: to make a walk more fun, assist with getting dressed, or for transition times.
Remember: hurry isn’t always necessary. If we organize ourselves and respect our little ones’ pace, we can enjoy the small moments without the pressure of the clock.