🌿 Is Your Child’s Growth Being Crowded Out? Identifying “Developmental Weeds” Early.

We often talk about childhood development in terms of “blooming”—the first word, the first step, the first social smile. But any gardener knows that for a flower to thrive, you have to keep an eye on the weeds. Like that pesky “Me-First Weed” that chokes out gratitude.

I had the privilege of sharing at a local Upward Basketball ministry. I stayed for the day and spoke six times at six halftimes. The short talk stayed the same with variations for each age group. I wanted to equip parents with ideas for leveraging a game day to pull some specific developmental weeds that creep up at different ages and stages.

“Developmental Weeds” are those subtle behaviours or missed milestones that, if left alone, can start to overshadow a child’s natural progress. They aren’t always obvious, and they don’t mean a child won’t flourish—they just mean the “garden” needs a little extra tending right now.

Why You Need to Spot the “Weeds” Today

Imagine walking by a garden covered with weeds. This is highlighted in a Proverb.

“I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with
thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.” -Proverbs 24:30-34

What do you learn from this? Sometimes we neglect weeds in our own hearts or the weeds in our homes. We may not be vigilant to root out what seeks to choke.

There are many applications for this passage including our work of course. But what about our hearts or in our families or with our children? As parents, grandparents and leaders, teachers or coaches, we have the privilege of helping children learn about the weeds that stunt their growth and teach them how to pull them.

My new “Developmental Weeds & Seeds” Chart helps you track:

1. ‘The Weed’ or habit
2. ‘The Good Seed’ it chokes
3. Developmental Context
4. Car Ride Question
5. Inspiration and Insights

📥 Download the Free Guide

Don’t wait for a “weed” to take root. Having a clear, visual map of what to look for gives you a plan to enjoy the blooming process.

Get all the weeds to check for and key sports-related questions for each age group from grades 1-8.