Toddlers are inventive if given the chance and opportunity.

As a toddler I was energetic and confident (some might say hyper and strong-willed). Many young children have such traits that can be considered strengths to encourage and nurture with guidance and routines. My mother helped nurture this in me by providing items in our home for me to use without help. Unfortunately, sometimes things go wrong.

In our kitchen there were some low shelves, easy to access as a kid. On one of those shelves was an empty cracker can, the kind that several sleeves of crackers fit into. I had taken ownership of this can and used it for reaching the counter and also to sit on. It was just the right height for my little legs. One day I went to the cabinet, retrieved the can, and sat down…the only problem was that I sat on the open end and thus became stuck. I tried to get out but couldn’t. The harder I tried the more frustrated I became, and very soon was in tears. My older brother, 5 at the time, and mother came to the rescue, or so I thought. They took one look at me and burst out laughing. Mom got the camera and my older brother fell on the floor laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath. Eventually I was freed from my tin prison, but am not certain that I ever sat on it again.

Providing children with items that they can use with little or no help is a great way to encourage problem solving and confidence. How were you encouraged as a child, or how have you encouraged children?