As we step into a new year, it’s easy to feel pressure to rush growth—both for ourselves and for the children we care for. In this episode of Big Little Lessons, Jenny and Kristine slow things down and invite parents and teachers to take a developmental pause.
Through classroom stories and lived experience, they explore:
- Setting intentions instead of resolutions
- Reviewing growth patterns to better understand behavior
- Creating a mental vision board for classrooms and home
- Honoring children’s current developmental stage while gently supporting the next step
They also share a trusted resource that has guided their teaching for years: Yardsticks by Chip Wood, a practical guide to understanding child development ages 3–14.This episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t happen by skipping stages—it happens when we notice, nurture, and trust the process.
Research and Recommendations
- Children’s understanding of apology develops over time — words often come before meaning.Vaish, Carpenter, & Tomasello (2011), Young Children’s Understanding of Remorse and Apology
- Repairing harm matters more than forced apologies when supporting moral and emotional growth.Zahn-Waxler & Kochanska (1990), The Origins of Guilt
Yardsticks by Chip Wood — a practical, parent- and teacher-friendly guide to children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development (ages 3–14). We reference this book as a helpful lens for honoring where children are developmentally and supporting what comes next.We welcome your feedback. Please email us at teachbiglittlelessons@gmail.com
Out of respect for our students, we want to note that while the stories we share are real, names have been changed for anonymity. In fact, every student we mention is named “Charlie.” We use that name as a way to honor privacy while still sharing authentic classroom experiences.
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