Expert explains how parents can participate in a child's growth with an adorable example

Every parent wants to have wholesome and memorable moments with their children that become a core memory for a lifetime. However, in the worry and excitement, we forget that our role includes giving them their space to learn too. Dan Wuori, Senior Director of Early Learning, explained the need to be timely and participative in parenting through the most adorable example ever. He posted a video on Twitter capturing a heart-melting duet between a father and his 3-month-old daughter.

Wuori, who tweets about child development and parenting, noticed something every parent should be aware of and shared the video with his expertise. The video, posted by a mother, Ivette Ivens—who goes by @ivetteivens on Instagram—captured the dad-daughter duo singing a random tune with “oohs” and “aahs” as the lyrics but it was not just a regular duet. Wuori said, “Watch how carefully and patiently Dad times his participation. He only adds to the song when the baby has completed her turn.” Indeed in the video, the dad began to sing the tune and stopped and waited patiently for his daughter to understand and try to continue the same.

Though the little one is not aware of the tune or words, she is simply replicating what her father was doing. The most important bit as Wuori mentioned is that her father gave her the time and space to comfortably understand and respond. Continuing in the video, the dad kept going with the tune, waiting after regular intervals for his baby to continue. With the pattern being laid, the little one got a hang of the idea. Soon, her father did something different. Wuori mentioned, “She extends his vocalizations right back, with one notable exception. That exception? Watch her reaction when dad switches from his initial ‘ah-oohs’ to ‘Daddy loves you!’”

When Dad switched his lyrics, the little one did get confused and paused for a bit. Wuori mentioned, “This elicited a pause and the happiest, toothless grin a 3-month-old can muster.” Her dad waited for her to pick up on what changed. When the 3-month-old was unable to catch the change, he repeated himself most sweetly and encouragingly. “It’s probably still a little early in her receptive language development to attribute her reaction to comprehension of his words,” said Wuori who explained the possible reason the tiny one was unable to reciprocate.

People on Twitter melted at the adorable insight given by Wuori. @LadyInBlueCA said, “This is just the sweetest thing! And how brilliant this little girl is to repeat daddy’s singing! The smile was absolutely precious! I’m melting.” @Jean_of_Arc2020 said, “I did this with my daughter too. As I changed her diaper I would pretend to sing opera. She would try to emulate it though it came out as ‘eek’ and ‘gack’. So sweet.”

Wuori continued the post saying, “Even without them, everything about this interaction screams ‘I love you.’ And you can tell that she knows it.” His idea is that children in their initial stages of growth need time but understand the intent and message, if not your words. Though they’re unable to reciprocate, kids surely give some response as long as you’re patient enough to observe. This patience develops through the participative parenting approach mentioned by Wuori. He concluded his post saying, “What a happy and adorable little singer. And what a brilliant job from Dad.”