Become the expert on your baby

You may have heard of the 10,000-hour rule.  It was developed by Anders Ericsson and others who studied expertise.  

Expert musicians, they found, had put in 10,000 hours of deliberate practice by the age of 20!  Serious amateur musicians had only practiced for 2000 hours. 

The same pattern was found in other professions.  Ericsson’s conclusion: practice matters more than talent.

If you are parenting a baby this is good news.  You almost certainly do not feel like an expert.  Few parents do.  I didn’t.

However … you’re undoubtedly putting in lots of hours. If you are a full-time caregiver, you’ll rack up those 10,000 hours in less than 14 months.

But as Ericsson discovered, it’s more than simply putting in the time. Prospective experts deliberately seek experiences that will help them improve. 

They practice with the help of teachers.  They self-consciously work on their craft. You can pay close attention to what works and what doesn’t. 

Note what your baby wants to do and help them do it.  

Keep records.  Learn from other parents.  

Play with your baby.  Allow them to explore.  Talk to them – lots.  Sing.  Read aloud to them – lots.

Be foolish.  Interact.  Baby will reward you with their attention and their killer smiles.

Use your hours together to apply your attention, intelligence, and experience to help them develop.  

You will become an expert on them.