YourTherapySource

What a thrill to watch your child take their first steps. But I want to spotlight something else about this video: the sheer perfection of the support system created by its adults. They teach us a lesson about learning that extends far beyond walking. If you watch closely, you’ll find that mom and grandpa have created a scenario in which baby is challenged to the limits of her ability AND provided the supports needed to guarantee her success. From the moment grandpa lets go, mom’s waiting arms are close enough that baby’s safety is ensured. She literally can’t fall. But watch what mom does as the baby finds success: She slowly retracts her arms and even begins to lean backward ever so subtly - extending baby’s runway while maintaining this safety net. As a result, what might have been journey of 1-2 steps was extended to 5-6. Simply fantastic. This is how all learning takes place: just beyond the limits of our prior success - and with scaffolding from caregivers, teachers, and more capable peers who help propel us just a little bit further than we’ve ever gone before. Is you child working to master something new? How might you adapt the lessons of this video to scaffold their success? 🎥 sean.nicol IG