Good Enough Care: Ten Tips

Instead of trying to build Super Babies based on misinterpreted, mistaken, or misguided research, it would be prudent if our profession stepped back a bit, took a deep breath, and focused on basic Good-Enough caregiving. Focusing on well-researched, evidence-based, historically-dependable early learning practices may not have babies reading by their first birthdays or doing calculus by kindergarten, but it will help prepare them for success in the world they will inherit. That world doesn’t need super-adults as much as it needs adults who are healthy, thoughtful, emotionally balanced, curious, energetic, and motivated.

To prepare today’s children to become the adults that tomorrow needs, we don’t need twist ourselves into knots micromanaging early childhood. We simple have to provide good enough care that focuses on basic needs.

Someday, researchers may discover a magic formula for building perfect adults, but until then, it would be wise to direct our attention to things we know are good for children:

1. Nutrition

We know little brains and bodies need plenty of water and a balanced diet, yet too many adults choose convenience over nutrition. Feeding children empty calories in the form of colored sugar water and deep-fried nugget-like finger foods is not good enough.

2. Sleep

Little brains (and big ones) deprived of sleep fail to function properly, yet many young children go through their days in a zombie-like stupor due to lack of slumber. They need bedtimes and naptimes. Letting children dictate their bedtimes and limiting their naps to make room for more “learning time” is not good enough.

3. Stability

Young children learn better when immersed in emotionally secure and physically safe environments, yet many live storm-tossed lives due to the stress and choices of their adult caregivers. Children need stability. Tossing and twisting them with the ebb and flow of adult whim is not good enough.

4. Movement

Our babies and older children need to move and interact with the physical world, yet babies are often caged in swings, bouncy seats, car seats, and exersaucers and older kids are often forced to be still, keep their hands to themselves, and stop fidgeting. Brains need movement. Containerizing babies and restricting the movement of older children is not good enough.

5. Media

Research tells us that screen time and electronic toys are harmful for children under two and questionable for older kids, yet we continue to spend billions on these devices. In the early years, person-to-person interaction is more appropriate than person-to-machine interaction. Screen time is not good enough.

6. Self-Regulation

Kids learn social skills and self-control through real-world interactions with other people, yet we continue to try to “teach” these skills with worksheets, silly songs, computer games, and circle time. Then we too quickly intervene and try to “fix” things when kids interact with each other. Self-regulation takes practice. Adult-driven teaching and “fixing” is not good enough.

7. Play

Play is an innate tool that young children use to understand the world and their place in it, yet we continue to discount its value and cut it from children’s days. Children need free play like fish need water. Cutting back on free play time to make room for academic instruction is not good enough.

8. Roughness

Rough and tumble play helps build physical and social skills, yet we continue to discount it, see it as violent, and restrict it. Children need to wrestle, grapple, push, shove, kick, punch, and pull each other. They are lion cubs and wolf pups with sharper minds and duller teeth. Outlawing rough and tumble play in early learning programs is not good enough.

9. Risk

Research says that manageable risk and danger are good teachers, yet we try to remove every potential opportunity for them from the lives of children. Risk and danger offer opportunities to test skills, be the hero, solve problems, and self-regulate. Weeding out all the risk and danger is not good enough.

10. Fear

Fear clouds the choices we make for children, yet we continue to give it power over our decision making. Research says strangers, outside play, Halloween candy, and balloons are all usually safe, but our fear has turned them into boogie men. We have also let it scare us into pushing children and rushing childhood. Simply doing what is good enough is good enough.