07/08/2026
“But they could do it yesterday…”
And that might be true.
But a child’s capacity can fluctuate from one day to the next, and sometimes from one hour to the next.
A child may be able to put their shoes on independently one day, join a group activity, separate from their parent, cope with a noisy environment or follow several instructions.
And the next day, they may need much more support.
That doesn’t mean they’re being difficult.
It doesn’t mean they’ve suddenly “forgotten”.
And it doesn’t mean we should push them because we know they can do it.
We need to look at the whole child and the whole environment.
🌿 Are they tired?
🌿 Hungry?
🌿 Overstimulated?
🌿 Is the environment louder or busier than usual?
🌿 Have there been changes at home?
🌿 Are they missing Mummy or Daddy?
🌿 Have they already used lots of their capacity just getting through the morning?
Sometimes a child who can do something still needs us to help them do it.
And that is okay.
Our job isn’t to constantly prove what children are capable of.
Our job is to notice, respond and provide the support they need in that moment.
Because progress isn’t always linear, and independence doesn’t mean never needing help again.
Instead of asking, “Why won’t they do it today?”
Perhaps we need to ask, “What is making it harder for them today?” 🌿
