Weaknesses in Junior and Papa

Junior is now 3 years and 3 months old. I see in him certain weaknesses which I also find in my self. And I ask myself: “Can I do anything to make those weaknesses go away?”

For example, I’ve noticed Junior always take the safe option. When he’s climbing on a ladder, he won’t go further up than 3 steps. When he plays on the slide he doesn’t go onto the big slide. And so on…

This is also something I do. Always evaluate risk and take the safe path. And I’ve always wondered if it is lack of courage or just common sense that I do this. I’d like to encourage Junior to try things out. Take risks. Sure he’ll fall a few times (that’s how children learn) but he’ll get right up on the horse again and at the same time move his limits.

However all my encouragements so far has failed. He has a clear idea of what he is capable of and what he is not. That limit is not to be crossed.

I wonder if this implies his nature is so, or maybe it changes as he grows ? Are we born with similar attributes as our parents, or do we develop ourselves with influence from outside ?

Any other parents out there who would like to comment on this ?