Raising toddlers requires patience and a sense of humor, but it can be wonderfully surprising and rewarding. As infants grow into toddlers, they not only walk away, but begin to assert their independence and interact independently with others. By providing consistent, supportive and firm input to your child, you are giving her a strong foundation for these encounters.
Encourage Motor Development
Encourage your toddlers to crawl, roll, crouch, stand, shake, wave and use their bodies constructively and freely. By feeling in control of themselves physically, they will feel less vulnerable and prone to acting out. Identify body parts, actions and responses ("She waved back!") to encourage self-awareness. As your child learns to walk, jump and dance, congratulate these milestones and reflect out loud on her fantastic development.
Initiate Conversations
According to New York University's Child Care Center, the toddler stage is when your child begins to use language (and not just action) as a means of self-expression. Encourage your toddler to speak and recognize words by asking him open-ended questions (e.g., "What would you like to do now?), requesting that he find specific objects or wondering aloud if he can name objects you observe together.
Promote Independent Thinking
Offer your toddler self-guided activities such as puzzles, stacking toys or role-play equipment (e.g., a toy doctor's bag). Encourage your toddler to be creative and stack the nesting toys in different ways or take the temperature of her stuffed animals. NYU's Child Center notes that toddlers are just beginning to understand cause and effect, so include this insight in your discussions (e.g., "Did you knock that tower down all by yourself? Does your teddy bear feel better now?").
Praise, Be Constructive
When you feel proud, say it aloud. Positive reinforcement can be a powerful motivator for behavioral development. Toddlers not only enjoy praise, but they can learn through a positive comparison (e.g., "Yesterday, you left your toys out, but today you put them all away. Good job!"). Constructive thinking is also a way to defuse issues related to discipline. Give your toddler a timeout and explain why, focusing on the behavior you seek the next time.
