In the first three years, your child will develop 80% of their brain, honing critical skills they'll use the rest of their lives. The world is their classroom. You're their favorite teacher. Every moment together is a lesson. 

But don't stress! Your child needs a parent who's present, not perfect. The most impactful interactions are often simple and intuitive. You and little one have already learned so much from each other. 

Here are 10 easy changes to your parenting routine that better support your child's developmental skills. Try what makes sense for your family, when it makes sense for your family. 

Cognitive & Problem Solving

Instead of flashy, battery-powered toys…
Try open-ended toys, like finger puppets, blocks, or stacking cups. They allow your kiddo to get creative and discover new ways to play. Bonus: Open-ended toys are usually less annoying!

Instead of doing tasks for little one…
Let them try by themself first, even if it takes more time. This builds independence, confidence, and new skills. Remember: You’re not raising a baby. You’re raising a little kid, who will become a big kid, who will become an adult. 

Fine Motor Skills

Instead of one-button toys…
Engage little one with hands-on and hands-full play, with items like crayons, play dough, or shape-sorting toys. This strengthens the smaller muscles and precise coordination needed for everything from getting dressed to learning to write.

Instead of sippy cups…
Supervise your child with an open cup or straw to support oral motor development and coordination. This can get messy and takes patience, so start slowly (and with water!) at home.

You might also like: The Grow With The Flow Guide

Gross Motor Development

Instead of long, contained rides in the stroller or grocery cart…
Fight grumpiness and boredom by letting your kiddo get the wiggles out with free movement. Supervised and at your discretion, of course! When children walk, crawl, jump, and dance on their own, they build balance, strength, and body awareness. They also learn how to share public spaces with others.

Instead of indoor-only play…
Put on the necessary layers and take little one outside to explore. If you live in a city, that’s okay. Even just a few minutes in the fresh air promotes sensory regulation. Playground visits are reliably kid-friendly, but a simple walk around the block can be thrilling. Slow down and allow your child to practice their skills and explore this little slice of the world at their own pace.

You might also like: 4 Ways To Turn Diaper Changes Into Brain-Building & Bonding Time

Language & Communication

Instead of yes/no questions…
Encourage expressive language with open-ended prompts. It’s as simple as swapping “Are you sleepy?” with “How do you feel?” You can reinforce these skills and introduce new words by responding to your child and modeling this behavior yourself. For example: “You said you feel really tired and could go to sleep right now? It sounds like you’re exhausted! I don’t feel exhausted. I feel energetic.”

Instead of background TV or music…
Spend focused time listening and singing to music or reading books aloud together. You don’t have to fully replace TV. The point is to spend more time actively engaging with media vs. passively consuming in order to promote language exposure and speech development.

Social-Emotional Skills

Instead of trying to solve frustration for your child…
Help your child name their feelings and work through them to foster emotional awareness and self-regulation. This teaches little one that feelings are valid, healthy, and can be expressed and worked through in various ways. You can model these skills by talking through your own feelings during daily moments. 

Instead of playing with your child…
Encourage them to play with their toys independently. Start with short periods of play and stay nearby, but don’t join in. Playing is little one’s job. Letting them call the shots boosts their focus, creativity, and confidence.