Play the Fool.
We could all learn a little something from Elmo’s friend Mr. Noodle. He is an adult who needs a lot of help from little kids to figure out how to do everyday things. This helplessness gives kids confidence because they feel really smart when they know more than an adult! For example, when trying to wash his hands he would do something like put his elbows in, then splash water on his face, or put his foot in the sink. Every time he does it wrong the little kids tell him the right way to do it until he finally gets it.
Find little ways to do this with your child everyday. Like forget how to put his shirt on in the morning. Or how to brush your/her teeth. How about what kind of utensil she needs to eat her cereal with? I’m sure there are a million things you can think of to “play the fool”.
*By the way this idea came from the Dr. Harvey Karp book The Happiest Toddler on the Block
