Picture a newborn baby…. They are so vulnerable, so helpless. They depend on others in getting their basic needs met. In many ways, they are a blank slate; equipped with everything they need to be successful – just waiting for someone to fill them with all of the love, support, and guidance they need.

Now, picture a 5 year old kindergartener; vibrant, active, curious, and independent in many ways. They have their own personality – they may be shy and quiet or outgoing and gregarious. Some ask a lot of questions, others wait to be told what to do. They can run, climb, sing, play, cry, laugh, and express themselves verbally. They have their own thoughts, feelings, and opinions about the world around them.

Who that newborn baby becomes is dependent on the environment around them… their interactions, their experiences, and opportunities. People are the key to helping children become a confident 5 year old ready to take on the world. Everyone in the life of a young child is a teacher…. Through our interactions and words we teach children how they are valued and who they can be. We teach them how to love and to be loved and to how to respect and embrace the world around them.

The first five years of life set the foundation of who a child becomes. Embrace that opportunity and responsibility as a parent, an aunt or uncle, teacher, or friend to a young child. They depend on us.