Providing Maximum Opportunities for Babies and Toddlers in Time Poor Society

By Kathy Walker – for Fisher-Price®

What research states:

It was predicted in the late 70’s that Australia would, as it entered the 21st century, be a nation that had high level of recreation time, less working hours than many other OECD countries and a high level of well being and happiness. Significant changes to lifestyle, internet, email, the pace of life and work life balance has over the past 30 years, witnessed in fact higher and longer working hours, with many staff not taking the leave entitlements that they are due, overscheduled busy children being booked into a high number of extra curricula activities each week and in addition, disturbingly high numbers of depression and anxiety amongst our population. Studies such as the 2007 Relationships Forum Report reflect the changes in lifestyle and working hours over the past decades.

The well being of young children, particularly in their first years of life, requires time, space and relationships that provide a non rushed and relaxed and stimulating environment as the basis for healthy and productive growth, and development. Kathy Walker in her book, What’s the hurry? Reclaiming Childhood in an overscheduled world highlights the tendency for toddlers and preschool children to be overscheduled and excessively tired by participating in so many extra activities each week and as a result having even less time to spend at home with family members. These children often lack the time and opportunity to play and to initiate and to use imagination or to enjoy family time. Internationally renowned child psychologist David Elkind shows that play is not a luxury we should ration, but rather a crucial dynamic of physical, intellectual, social and emotional development for children of all ages (Elkind, 2007). Unfortunately because of how children spend their time outside school, many young children now lack the ability to play at the high level of complexity and engagement that affords so many cognitive, social and emotional benefits (NAEYC Position Statement 2009).

Research emphasizes the importance of healthy and strong attachments between babies/toddlers and their primary carers. Studies over the years and in more recent times highlight how important it is that babies and toddlers who are held, touched, cuddled, smiled at and have responsive environments and parents, are more likely to develop promote productive brain development, positive self esteem, and a healthy curiosity about life (Campos, Kremlin, Zumbahlen, 1992, 2009; Berk, L Development Through the Lifespan, 2008)

Why is this important?

For families busy with balancing life/work/ children/ costs of living, mortgages, and other requirements of life, we often find ourselves feeling time poor and often exhausted as well! It is important for parents to reflect upon their lifestyle and to ensure that despite the busyness of life, they are able not only to look after themselves, but to ensure that they have quality and regular time building their relationships with their young babies and toddlers, playing with, interacting, and enjoying their young children. The issues are more about the quality of interactions and the time you spend rather than the actual number of hours you do spend together. There is little point in spending lots of time together if you are so exhausted that you don’t have the emotional or mental energy required to provide quality interactions between you and your child. It is the quality rather than the quantity of time spent with your child that is important.

The role of the parent and home life

As the parent, you are setting the model, the lifestyle pace and the quality of the experiences within your own home. The family remains one of the most important and significant influences upon young children in their early years of life. Providing time to play, to rest, to interact and to have fun together needs to be a priority within the home, particularly in the first few years of life.
Promoting meaningful interactions and building relationships in a time poor society

Strategies:

• Try to avoid becoming caught up in what you think everyone else is doing or how every other family seems to be coping better than you. It usually isn’t the case!
• Establish clear routines in the home that help everyone to know what is expected and as smooth as possible running of the house (this helps everyone feel calmer, even the baby!!). For example, ensure you build in time to eat together as a family, to use routine times like bath and teeth and getting into bed as part of a family ritual that the parent also participates in and happens in a similar order each day. Meaningful family time can be as simple as these ordinary everyday life experiences.
• Avoid thinking your young baby or toddler needs lots of socialization at the ripe old age of 1 year!! They need lots of time with you, playing with toys and materials and enjoying a relaxed routine that is not rushed and filled with lots of extra curricula activities.
• Ensure you look after yourself as a parent. Make yourself meet a friend for coffee, go for a walk or to the gym. Prioritize yourself. Remember the saying; a happy parent makes for a happy child!!
• Try not to fill each hour of the weekend with activities. Make yourselves slow down.
• Seek additional support if you are feeling things are getting on top of you. Share these feelings with a friend, family member or professional counselor.
• The best types of activities for parents to engage with their children to best promote all aspects of a child’s development is to sit down and sing, or read, or chat or play.
• Be gentle with yourself.
• Remember most of us feel time poor so it’s important to actively take action to free some time up.

For further practical tips on promoting rich language skills, visit www.fisherpriceexperts.com.au