The Preschooler

Comparing Kids

When you visit the pediatrician with your child for a well-child checkup, the doctor will share information with you about your child’s growth.  Even as an infant, your child is compared to children across the nation, and the details about your child’s physical development are given to you in the form of percentages.  For example, I am aware that my younger son is only heavier than 6 out of every 100 children.  (I also no he has not even made it onto the charts for height.)

Although seemingly minor issues, height and weight are just the beginning of comparisons we make among our children.  As they grow older, we tend to compare other aspects of their development as well.  “Has my child rolled over as soon as so-and-so?”, “Did my child learn to speak as quickly?”, “Is my child learning his letters as fast?” 

Every parent has probably been warned, more than once, not to compare your child to other children.  As parents, we are aware of the dangers in these comparisons, and yet, the protective instinct kicks in, and we make them anyway.  This seems especially true when there is more than one child in the family.

Being aware of comparisons is half the battle.  I doubt any parent will ever be able to stop making them.  However, it is how we act in response to these innate comparisons that really matters.

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Written by Laura on February 4, 2011