In her book, Slow and Steady Parenting
, Dr. Catherine Sanderson recommends we parents do a little cost-benefit analysis of strolling with our kids.
, Dr. Catherine Sanderson recommends we parents do a little cost-benefit analysis of strolling with our kids. Benefits:
(1) They help you get tasks done without breaking your back.
(2) They have those great baskets underneath for carrying a bunch of kid-gear.
(3) They keep the curious, dawdle-prone toddler moving along at a decent clip.
(4) You can have your hands mostly free for shopping or whatever else you're doing.
Costs:
(1) The baby misses snuggle time in your arms.
(2) Kiddos wiz by the world too fast to explore it.
(3) It can get boring for the already-walking toddler who would prefer to be moving those legs.
(4) Mom arrives home tired from pushing them and kids arrive home with energy to burn.
Perhaps there is a better way to use my strollers than just toting Junior everywhere because it's what "everybody else" does. For active babies like my 8-month-old, short errand trips and walks are best because they allow him more time at home to roll around on the floor and practice his budding motor skills. For toddlers who can walk, it may be better to let them even if it takes longer to get things done. They'll learn a lot, get some exercise, and arrive home tired enough to nap well.
There are many seemingly convenient ways to parent in the short term that turn out to be harder in the long term. This is one I hadn't thought through, and I'm glad for the opportunity to do so. I will continue to use my beautiful plethora of strollers with great joy, but I will use them only on those occasions when they are truly worth the cost.
RESOURCES
Slow and Steady Parenting
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment