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Teachable moments
It's that question whose answer leads to a dozen more questions, that spark of discovery that your child wants to share, that special time when both of you are completely open. It's a Teachable Moment. Teachable Moments occur frequently in the world of exploration that is a child's. As parents, we need to strive to maximize the advantage of these moments. They come in a lot of different forms, from questions to quiet times to curiosity. It is the wise parent who recognizes them for what they are: opportunities to expand a child's world.
"Dad, how come we have to stop at a red light?" Dad can answer Junior's question with a short, "Because the law says so" and end the discussion. Or he can use that question as a springboard to explain about community and collective decision-making, prompting more and more questions. When your child asks sincere questions, answer them with as much information as he is able to grasp. Follow it with one right back to him. "What would happen if we didn't stop at red lights?" or "What if we stopped at green lights?" That lets him rethink the concept.
When you see your child intently watching something, watch it with him. "That caterpillar is pretty amazing, isn't it?" "Interesting how that crank moves your bicycle chain." When you have someone to share it with, it's twice as captivating. You don't even necessarily have to say anything. Simply sitting there with him, sharing a quiet minute is often enough. Taking the time to be interested in what your child find interesting promotes a sense of value and worth in his decisions.
Teachable Moments don't necessarily have to be child-led. Parents can create them. When you are supervising your daughter making juice from concentrate, capitalize on that moment to strengthen her math and reasoning skills. "How many cans of water are you adding to one can of juice?" "Three." "What if we decided to use TWO cans of juice? Then how many cans of water?" It's exciting to see the proverbial little light bulb go off above her head as she processes the information and comes up with the right answer.
Our values, worldview and faith are also well served by Teachable Moments. When children understand the "why" behind their traditions, they are much more likely to keep them and pass them on. Rather than a curt, "Because that's just the way our family does things," take the time to explain the background and the reasons WHY your family holds particular traditions and beliefs. "Because I said so" is a sure way to dampen the fires of a Teachable Moment. The few minutes invested in fostering further exploration will reap a lifetime of benefits as your child learns that her questions are worthy of being answered, and that she can come to her parents with any question.
There are dozens of moments every day if we parents are perceptible enough to see them. These are the times they will remember when they are teaching the Teachable Moments with children of their own. Capitalize on one of those of those moments today, and watch your child's eye light up with discovery.
note: this article first appeared in Monterey County Family Magazine
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