He's Only 3!

I've come across many instances where I have asked a parent if they've ever taken their child to.

Maybe I asked if they've ever taken their kid to a basketball game, or to a play, fishing, or streaking across Public School Stadium's field.  Whatever the question, I almost always receive a similar response from parents of younger children......"He/she is too young!"

Now that is the stupidest thing I've ever heard!!  That's like saying, "My child isn't intelligent enough to fish," or "My child has the comprehension level of a mosquito, he couldn't possibly understand a basketball game."

Give your kids some credit!!  I realize that a 3 year old probably can't tie a knot, put on bait, and cast his/her rod.  Yet they can watch you do it, as you explain it, they can watch you cast it, they can watch it go under the water, and they can also watch you reel in the fish.  You can show them the fish, they can touch it, you can skip rocks, feed the ducks......getting my drift.

You may be saying, "My kid's attention span is 2 minutes, he/she would never sit still for that!" 

How do you know if you've never done it?

Your child probably has more going on in their head than you can comprehend.  Give them a chance to like it or dislike it, give them a chance to get bored with it.  Chances are your child will be absolutely thrilled to know they may be going on a boat or going to catch some, "fishies."  Get them interested in things other than Barbie Dolls, and Tonka trucks.  The plan to take your 4 year old fishing may backfire......but wouldn't it make a good story?  Tiger Woods was hitting a golf ball at 2 years old, Wayne Gretzky got his first hockey stick at 3, and Bill Clinton had interns at 5.

My mother used to use big vocabulary words with us kids.  She once told my brother to stop antagonizing me.  Her sister said, "Oh they don't understand what that word means."  She's right....we didn't.  We did however understand whether that meant something good or bad.

My point is that parents sell their kids short too often.  Don't avoid something because you're afraid they won't understand it or get it.  Try 'em....maybe they'll surprise you.  You're not helping your child in any way if you restrict what you expose them to solely based on what YOU think they can and will enjoy.

You may have the next Vincent Van Gogh, Babe Winkelman, Jack Nicklaus, or Bill Clinton holding your hand......expose them to everything and anything you can.....you owe it to them……even though “He’s only 3.”