Toddlers and their understanding of life
The other day I had an interesting conversation with my three and half year old twins which got me thinking about how their understanding of life is so different to ours.
1. I’m a dad of five children. Three from my first marriage and the twins from my second marriage. My oldest rang me on my birthday to say happy birthday and the twins started talking to me about me being their daddy. I explained that I’m J’s daddy too and I could see a certain amount of confusion on their faces. She doesn’t live with me and they said does she have a daddy at home? All really strange because they have complete understanding that she is their sister.
2. Time is something else that three and half year olds really don’t understand. When you are going to do something special it’s a good thing to leave it to the last minute otherwise you will get them saying when are we going constantly! I have often wondered if they gauge time by the habits of the day like lunch, tea and nursery. They have really got no idea that Saturday and Sunday are days off from nursery.
3. Toddlers also have this wonderful attitude to places they have been or things they have done. It could have been six months ago, but when you ask them it’s always ‘yesterday.’
4. When they want something or to do something there is never an understanding that you may be busy for a few minutes. It has to be done now and they go on until it is done. They use the word, NOW!, which can grate on your brain!
5. Then there is finally their understanding of money, Most toddlers think they can have something every time you go to the shops and have no idea that you have to work to get money so that you can buy things. Of course that doesn’t really change even when they are teenagers!
Toddlers have a wonderful life of no responsilitly or worries and it must be fantastic! However, of course the worries, fears and joys of adulthood will arrive all too soon, so I’m hoping the innocence of childhood lasts for a long time.
9 Comments
john adams
December 3, 2015 at 10:07 am
I relate to every single word! My youngest always want to go to the shops but doesn't understand that things cost money. She also wants everything done "now" and everything happened "yesterday". I think we could swap lives Nigel! #BrilliantBlogPosts
All About The Child
December 4, 2015 at 12:14 pm
So true! Toddler years were my favourite. Sad to see that recently passing us by. My daughter still trying to grasp the concept of time but it's getting better. And of course we have the same issue with the concept of money – "mommy, get your card to pay for it" #binkylinky
Emma Jones
December 4, 2015 at 4:05 pm
The point about money is very valid. My 5 year old still thinks any coin is brilliant the 8 year old knows really you want gold or notes ��
Reimer Ruby
December 5, 2015 at 6:30 am
Lovely post! My 2 yr old is the same, the NOW word is so popular, they can really be demanding, aren't they? Howver, my 5 yr old has more sense with time a bit better, he understands about money now as well. Lovely photos! #TheList
Emily
December 5, 2015 at 9:42 pm
It is pretty funny how they look at the world and try to understand it. Thanks for linking up to the #BinkyLinky
Lianne Thebrunettesays
December 6, 2015 at 9:29 am
Its always really interesting to see life through their eyes!! So young and innocent 🙂 #justanotherlinky
Something Crunchy Mummy
December 9, 2015 at 7:33 am
This is a great post. A life of a toddler is amazing and it's so true about their concept of time. I have learnt to not tell the boys we are doing something as they just go on about it. #binkylinky xx
you baby me mummy
December 9, 2015 at 10:10 pm
I adore the way they look at life. So simplistic and wonderful. Thanks for linking up to #TheList x (your social sharing to Twitter doesn't work, so I couldn't share for you)
Something Crunchy Mummy
December 10, 2015 at 9:33 pm
Popping back from #justanotherlinky. Thanks for linking up xx