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Home › Articles › Fiction/Opinion/Essays › Toddler Transitions

Toddler Transitions

By Jenny Rackley

Pages:  1  2  

After a group snack, we had circle time. Julianna sat on my lap while we did hand-clapping songs, then on my legs for knee-bouncing songs. Soon the teacher gave each child a set of bells to shake and we sang another song. Julianna stood up ... and danced! She continued to dance as the teacher traded bells for soft sticks that had large fabric pom-poms on the end. Julianna protested when she had to give the stick back, but we sang one more song, which she moved her whole body to. Our visit had drawn to a close.

I had known, intuitively, that she could do all of those things and could enjoy these types of activities. But, with two children, I always pictured her as the baby. In one morning, I saw my daughter in a whole new light.

Okay, so Julianna is still my baby. But, due to an eye-opening experience, I recognized that she is a toddler in her own right. After that, we started going to story times specifically for 12 to 24 month olds and to parent-child movement classes. When reading aloud, I now make sure that the books I choose will interest her as well as her older brother. I sing to her more, and we dance and play ring-a-round-the-rosy. We even attempted finger painting one day (and toe painting ... and face painting...) Now, even though she will always be my baby, I can watch her and support her as she blossoms into my little lady.

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