Recently Erin had a little freak out moment about Isaac. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that he’s not walking yet, but whatever it was she was worried that he was “behind”. Besides not walking, he still plays with toys that, technically, he’s supposedly to have grown out of.
To be honest, I wasn’t really worried about it. I figure he’s a kid and the toys he was (and is) still playing with that aren’t designed for kids his age are kind of fun. They make noise, light up, etc. And they’re not the only ones he plays with. He plays with a lot of toys designed for kids his age and he’s handy with some toys that, supposedly, are for kids older than him. I figure he just knows the toys he’s played with, he enjoyed them and he wants to keep playing with them.
Toys I’ve told you about before, like these:
But you want to know the biggest reason why it doesn’t worry me?
That would be because when I play in the front room alongside him, these are my favorite things to play with:
I can, quite literally, be content for long stretches of time just laying on the floor and throwing a ball up in the air. I know it doesn’t sound like the most exciting thing in the world, but it relaxes me and is something I’ve done since I was a kid. It doesn’t matter what it is either. A football, baseball, a ball from Isaac’s ball pit, anything. If I can throw it up and catch it we’re good to go.
Playing with toys that aren’t age appropriate hasn’t messed me up (depending on who you ask I suppose), so why should I worry if Isaac takes his sweet time giving up toys that he loves?
Now if he’s 5 years old and still playing with the key that plays music we might have to have a little talk, but until that days comes he can play with whatever toy he wants.
When my first son was a toddler I was in a Mommy and Me group – the only dad, as usual. It was in Santa Monica and there was a new age sort of feeling to it. My son was about 14 months or so and we often discussed first steps, first words, and such.
The leader said something very wise that helped me with these issues. She said that most all the kids will be talking, walking, and toilet trained when they begin elementary school. Relax. They’ll get there.
I did and he got there and so did I!
I think that’s a very good thing to keep in mind. We both know that he’s on track for everything, but sometimes it’s easy to look at what other kids his age (and sometimes younger) are doing that he can’t do (most notably, walk) and get a little antsy about it.