When I'm bigger game
2–3 yearsEmotional WellbeingNo materials needed
During play or quiet moments, talk about simple things your child will be able to do as they grow. Say, "When you're bigger, you'll reach that shelf" or "Soon you'll be able to put on your coat by yourself." Keep it concrete and focused on near-future abilities. This builds positive expectations about growth and development, teaching your child that abilities expand over time.
Part of the Imprint developmental journey — personalized to your child.
How to Do This Activity
During play or quiet moments, talk about simple things your child will be able to do as they grow. Say, "When you're bigger, you'll reach that shelf" or "Soon you'll be able to put on your coat by yourself." Keep it concrete and focused on near-future abilities. This builds positive expectations about growth and development, teaching your child that abilities expand over time.
Why It Works
Helping children develop positive expectations about their future capabilities builds optimistic thinking about growth and change. Research demonstrates that optimism supports resilience and better adaptation to developmental transitions (Carver, C. S., Scheier, M. F., & Segerstrom, S. C. (2010). Optimism. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(7), 879-889.). At this age, children are rapidly developing new abilities, and framing this growth positively helps them see challenges as temporary and view themselves as capable of increasing competence, which are hallmarks of an optimistic outlook.
Tips for Parents
Focus on realistic, age-appropriate next steps. Avoid making it sound too far away or abstract.
Connect it to what they're working on now. If they're trying to climb, talk about climbing higher soon.
Use an encouraging, matter-of-fact tone. This is about natural growth, not pressure to achieve.
Materials Needed
None
Learning Methods
Songs, Stories, and RhymesSymbolic and Pretend PlaySocial Learning Through Peers
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