Like waves that ebb and flow. Child development is a 'spiral'

Hello, this is itokata.

When writing daily childcare records, or
when wishing, 'I want this child to be like this.'
What do you use as a 'standard' for your thinking?

'Because there is an event,
I want them to act the same as everyone else'
'Because the nursery's goal is such and such, I have to make them able to do it'

In the past, I sometimes felt distressed myself by trying to make children fit such 'nursery conveniences' and 'assumptions'.

'Whether they can do it or not, it should be fine at the child's own pace.'
While I thought that, I didn't have a clear basis for it within myself, and somewhere I was wavering, unable to be confident, wondering, 'Is this really okay?'

Amidst that wavering, what I returned to was
the perspective of 'development'.
And I learned about the 'progression of development' in children, and actually incorporated it into my childcare and interactions.

A child's growth is not a straight line; it is like 'waves' that ebb and flow, or
in developmental psychology, it is often compared to a 'spiral' that rises while circling the same place.

Regaining professional knowledge and confidence from practice within myself became a major turning point.

Returning to [Developmental Milestones] to think

When capturing a child's state,
it means thinking based on [Developmental Milestones for X-year-olds].

Instead of applying 'they are X years old, so they should be like this',
I capture it as 'where is this child currently in their development?'
I believe such a perspective is important.


For example, during play.
The sight of them turning over a toy box and taking everything out.
Thinking, 'They're making a mess again... cleaning up is a hassle,' is a convenience for the nursery or the adult, isn't it?

But, when looking at it from [Developmental Milestones],
the view changes completely.

• Looking at the act of taking everything out from the perspective of [Development]
Seeing with eyes, touching with hands, checking the sound of things falling and how they spread.
This is an expression of intellectual curiosity that deepens 'spatial awareness' and learns cause and effect (if you turn it over, it falls).

An essential part of this period
'An important step for brain development'
'Not 'making a mess,' but 'exploring the world (the brain is growing).'

• The sound of things falling is interesting
• Taking things out of the box is fun
• Wanting to check everything before playing
If you observe the child in front of you,
I think the expression will change from 'taking out' (in a messy way) to
simply 'taking out' the toys.

By capturing things based on guidelines and the path (sequence) of development,
the words written in records and the gaze toward the child
will change into something with professional conviction.

Development grows while swaying
like 'waves'

Another thing I value is
that there is a 'sequence' to development.

And that the journey
is not a straight line like climbing stairs one step at a time.
Just like 'waves' that ebb and flow,
repeating advancing and retreating,
it is something that grows little by little, but surely.

What they could do yesterday, they cannot do today.
The 'balance' that was about to settle begins to sway greatly again.
That is not a 'regression'.
I view it as an important period
where they are storing up strength for the next big leap.

The 'gap' you can see precisely because you thought it through

After thinking with [Developmental Milestones] as the axis in that way,
there might be moments when you feel, 'Somehow, this milestone doesn't quite fit this child right now.'
When you pause and wonder, 'Why?'

That is exactly when you should
go back one or two steps on the developmental stairs.
I think that breadth of thinking also helps create an atmosphere where children can spend their time with peace of mind.

• They are a 5-year-old, but they are currently seeking 'total acceptance' like in infancy.
• They are a 3-year-old, but they need 'exploration until satisfied' like a 0- to 1-year-old.

Precisely because you know the basic sequence of development,
you can have confidence and a basis for the judgment that'Now is the time to surrender to a wave one step lower.'

Walking the stairs of 'here and now' together

Instead of the nursery framework of 'because they are X years old',
we childcare workers should approach
the 'place of development where the child currently is'.

After understanding basic development,
find the stride that suits that child.
I believe that is what leads to supporting the child in riding the next wave and stepping forward powerfully.