You will find that certain small bite-sized parenting related nuggets just stick with you. One of these for me was hearing many years back that young kiddos thrive on repetition.
How will you see this as a parent? Well I can answer that for you, because tonight I read “Arthur’s Chicken Pox” for the 1 millionth time to Lilly Bug. I am either living in a strange twist on that Groundhog’s Day movie OR she really enjoys it. Recently she has even started picking out parts that she wants to “read”, (her favorite, “Mom, DW is torturing me!!!!”)+.
This is a good nugget to remember because for us adults, variety is the spice of life. Our brains thrive on new challenges, new situations and new interests. Our kiddos, especially when really young, need safety, security, schedule and parents who are willing to read the same book multiple nights in a row.
Now, for sanity’s sake, it is fine to put limits on this. Know your limits when it comes to books or games that feel very repetitive to you. You certainly don’t want to dread book or play time, but knowing about their love for repetition will help you find a healthy balance. For me personally, once I have a dream involving Arthur or anyone in his family, the book is gone. Until then we plan to keep reading her that book and one more of her choice for as long as it still makes her smile.