So many of you have tagged me on this lovely video this week. It’s a powerful reminder that young children are born problem solvers. What a little genius. But what I really want to call attention to are the adults in this video: Mom (who’s shopping in the background) and Dad (who appears to be the one behind the camera). It’s their patience and confidence that enabled all the great things we see here. Were they to have intervened prematurely, our hero wouldn’t have had the opportunity to work this problem out the way she ultimately did. As the caption notes sometimes the hardest part of being a parent is resisting the urge to step in and remove any source of friction for your child. That doesn’t mean you never intervene… but this is a textbook case of when not to. Here, their daughter is actively and patiently working on a solution. Her expression isn’t one of frustration… it’s one of determination. And the answer is right there in front of her… getting closer with each failed attempt. So here’s a good rule of thumb: sit back when appropriate. Intervene immediately if your child is in danger, of course. Intervene before long if the task at hand is simply beyond your toddler’s current ability… but know that the magic happens right on the edge of what’s possible. So in instances like this, allow your child the latitude to work things out. You might be surprised at the amazing results. Lastly, but importantly, not one of the posts I’ve been tagged on has credited the actual creator of this video - Deddeh Howard on Instagram. This often happens when things go viral, but I work hard to ensure proper attribution of the content I share here. The child development commentaries are mine, but the video content is always theirs. Thanks to Deddeh for this wonderful video and kudos on this A+ parenting.