#016 How Understanding Your Child’s Benchmarks Builds Confidence, Harmony—and Breakfast

Every child develops at their own pace.

Understanding their unique benchmarks—what they’re ready for, what they’re capable of, and what they’re working toward—helps you parent with clarity, not comparison.

When you tune into these milestones, you do more than just celebrate progress.

You build confidence, trust, and harmony in your home.

Why Understanding Benchmarks Matters

No two kids hit the same milestones at the same time.
What one six-year-old can do might be wildly different from another. And that’s okay.

Here’s why it’s powerful to understand and track where your child is developmentally:

• Personalized Growth: You support them at their level, not some checklist.

• Encouragement: You know what to praise and how to build momentum.

• Balanced Development: You’re watching not just academics, but social, emotional, and physical growth too.

• Family Harmony: Everyone’s on the same page—so there’s less tension and fewer misunderstandings.

A Story From Our Kitchen

One of the ways we embraced benchmarks was by bringing our kids into the kitchen.

I kept children’s cookbooks in the cabinet and encouraged my boys to make their own food from a young age.

My youngest son? He became quite the chef.

On weekend mornings, he would make scrambled eggs and French crepes—on his own. Sometimes we’d wake up to the smell of breakfast already ready!

It didn’t happen overnight. We taught safety, offered help, and praised effort.

But eventually, he owned it—and he loved it.

It wasn’t just about cooking.

It was about independence, responsibility, and contribution—all wrapped into one delicious milestone.

What Happens When the Whole Family Aligns

When everyone in the family understands the benchmarks—and what your child is capable of—it changes everything.

Here’s how to put this into practice:

✅ Communicate Expectations

Talk about goals, progress, and what “growth” looks like for your child right now. Share it with your spouse, caregivers, or other kids so the whole team is aligned.

🎉 Celebrate Achievements

No milestone is too small. Mastering buttons? Making toast? Owning their morning routine? Celebrate it. It builds confidence.

🛠️ Create a Supportive Environment

Give them the tools they need—books, routines, timers, visuals, even kitchen gear—to succeed. Set them up to win.

🔒 Emphasize Safety Without Fear

When you teach something like cooking or biking, lead with safety and trust. Kids rise to the occasion when we believe they can.

⚖️ Balance Work and Play

Yes, we want to teach skills. But kids also need rest, imagination, and playtime. Keep it joyful.

The Outcome? Confident, Independent Kids

When you embrace your child’s benchmarks (and help the family get on board), something amazing happens.

Your child becomes capable.

They see themselves as trustworthy.

They start solving problems and owning routines.

And the home becomes more harmonious—not because everything’s perfect, but because everyone knows their part.

Want a strategy to support your child’s milestones while creating more peace at home?

👉 Download the free ebook: How to Create Family

Inside, you’ll get the 3-part system I use to raise confident, contributing kids—and bring the family together with purpose.