Dad Tip of the Day: Comfort Items

Dad Tip of the Day: Let your kids have their comfort items when they are young, but help them get gain the self-confidence they need to ditch them as they grow.

Kids need to feel safe, secure and comfortable. Due to this, certain things like blankets, stuffed animals, pacifiers, etc can be come “comfort items” to help them. As kids learn new things about the environment they live and play in, these comfort items can act as transitional object in which they have something familiar and calming in the midst of the unknown.

Here is an article I found that discusses kid’s comfort items: http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/toddler/development/how-a-comforter-or-transitional-object-helps-your-toddler-20140730-3cuun

The article has a number of good points, including that a comfort item can bring security/safety when nothing else can if they are in an unfamiliar environment. It can help kids settle more quickly and make them feel like they belong. It can help promote their self-confidence and encourage them to become more independent.

As kids get older, they will grow into themselves more and realize they have the ability and confidence to do more things. This will lessen their dependence on a comfort item, to the point where they should no longer need it. However, if kids are too reliant on comfort items, it can actually become a hindrance, so working on weaning them off and growing their confidence can be tough for parents to navigate.

Here are a couple of pictures of my kids with some of their comfort items:

I appreciate you coming by today!

Brian