Read the scenarios in the table below. Each one is an unrealistic expectation for children’s behavior. Write what you think is a realistic expectation in the given space, and discuss your responses with your coach, trainer, or adminsitrator.

1. Zane, a 2-month-old, never smiles or babbles back at me during drop off.
   Though Zane may sometimes smile and coo, I shouldn’t expect for him to consistently do this until he is a bit older--around 4 months.

    
2. Max, an 18-month-old, never remembers to walk when entering the building with his dad.
   Toddlers do not yet have a sense of most rules or what is safe versus unsafe. It is the responsibility of adults to keep toddlers safe.

    
3. Janie, a 2½-year-old, doesn’t say please or thank you during mealtime.
   Children at this stage are refining how to use words to communicate with others and are learning new words all the time. Unless they’ve been directly taught or modeled, many will not say please or thank you.

    
4. Ashley, a 3-year-old, will leave her pants unzipped and unbuttoned. She doesn’t know how to get herself dressed.
   It is not uncommon for 3-year-olds to still be in the learning stage of toilet training and dressing themselves, and many will need help with small clothing fasteners.

    
5. Juan, a 5-year-old, likes to ask adults rude questions like, “How old are you?” or makes comments like, “You have a big nose.”
   We should expect preschoolers to be curious and ask a lot of questions. They don’t have a sense of most social norms and are learning how people are similar and different.

    
6. Every time I walk by the school-age areas, the kids are non-stop talking. Don’t they know how to listen?
   Talking with peers is typical for school-agers because children this age are very motivated by and interested in peers. Talking with peers is an important part of how they learn.