“Power is Mine!” — The Autonomy Granted in Having a CD Player
This week I did something to grant my daughter more power and autonomy over her play. I don’t think I’ll regret it…
I remember how much I loved being able to play cassettes with stories and songs as a kid, especially around bedtime, so I bought my daughter a cheap CD player. We already had a few CDs, including Miss Ella’s Playhouse.
I set up the CD player and showed her how to put the discs in and operate the controls. She got big eyes and a happy grin. Now she can start and stop her own dance parties whenever she likes.
While she does like the music itself, I think it may be the power that came along with this that she loves even more. She can turn the CD player on. She chooses what CD to play. She presses start and can change the volume. She doesn’t have to ask me or anyone else for help to make music come out of this machine. How empowering!
I’ve been watching the satisfaction she takes in being more autonomous and considering other ways to empower her. At this age, around 2.5 years old, she doesn’t need anything huge. These little abilities are great, and their importance is something I need to key in on as a conscious act in order not to deprive her of other similar opportunities.
Opportunities for her to feel more empowered and granted more responsibility and freedom:
- Watering the plants that she helped me plant the seeds for in the flower pots on the front steps.
- Carrying her backpack into daycare instead of me.
- Doors: Closing the car door, opening the front door once I’ve unlocked it for her, opening the sliding doors to let the dogs in and out of the backyard.
- Helping find her own clothes in the fresh laundry pile and taking them to her room.
- Getting vitamins ready for the dogs’ food.
- Choosing the cereal she wants at the grocery store.
More chances for responsibility can be empowering and show trust. Trust between me and my daughter makes us both happier. I don’t have to watch her all the time. She can entertain herself for a few minutes and choose what she does or does not do.
If you want to try something similar, I recommend getting a cheap CD player. The local library usually has CDs in the children’s area for checkout so that you can cycle in new content without having to spend anything.
Keep Reading
For books that focus on the main character’s autonomy and taking the situation into her or her own hands, check out these items:
It’s Only Stanley by Jon Agee — 5 stars
When his friend sends him a call for help, Stanley, the family dog does not just sit idly by. He turns the house into a spaceship and goes to the moon to rescue her! Stanley is hilarious, but I would be a bit terrified of having a real dog with this capabilities…
by Lisa Mantchev — 4 stars
When the local Pet Club won’t let his pet elephant in, a boy decides to create his own club where all are welcome. Instead of getting mad, he uses the opportunity to make friends and make others feel welcome. I think this boy would grow up to make the world better, too.
Beekle, The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat — 5 stars
Beekle waits and waits in the land of imaginary friends for his person to imagine him. He waits so long without being imagined that he takes matters into his own hands and travels to find his person, facing unknown, strange lands along the way. But, his daring pays off, and he finds her!
