Navigating Uncertainty and Exploring the Unknown
It’s never too early to start teaching our children how to embrace things that are unfamiliar Being exposed to new people, places and things is important for your child’s development, and will increase respect and openness.
Your child will notice how you respond to new and unfamiliar experiences. Pay attention to your body language and eye contact during these new experiences. Explain what you’re thinking and feeling to help them understand what is happening and how to respond.
There are lots of different ways to show your child new people, places, and things.
Expose your children to community events that celebrate many different people, abilities, and issues. Models ways of being engaged and involved with others.
If it looks like they are becoming too overwhelmed, take a break! Step away for a few minutes and acknowledge – out loud – that new and unfamiliar experiences can take some getting-used-to. They may not understand your words, but they will understand your tone of voice and body language.
Babies love to look at other babies!
- “Read” picture books that include depictions of different ethnic groups, family organizations, gender identities and physical abilities.
- If you don’t have much experience with other cultures, don’t be afraid to learn with your child. Diversity awareness and respect is important at all ages, and an openness to learn when you don’t already know is a a great lesson to teach your child.
For some new experiences, like going to an unfamiliar playground or outdoor concert, talk about what to expect can be helpful, but don’t over-prepare them. Over-preparation can actually increase anxiety, and make a new situation seem scary.
- Don’t avoid all situations that may cause your child some stress. Create opportunities to teach your child that new things – even those that make them nervous – can be great!
- Exposing your child to new things in small doses can decrease anxiety and increase curiosity and comfort.
Start small.
If your baby cries at the sight of a dog, don’t drop them on the floor and expect them to start playing together! Provide incremental opportunities to learn that new experiences (like petting a dog) – this doesn’t have to be scary. For example:
- hold your baby while in the same room as a dog (that you know)
- hold your baby while you pet the dog
- kneel down while you hold your baby and you pet the dog
- kneel down and guide your baby’s hand to pet the dog
- kneel down and let your baby sit/stand and guide them to pet the dog
- kneel down and let your baby pet the dog independently
- put your baby on the ground to pet the dog independently