The term
"toddler" is
generally used
for babies
between the ages
of twelve months
and twenty-four
months. During
this age, a
child's main
interest is
usually himself.
Lots of plastic
mirrors and a
full-length
mirror at his or
her eye level
are perfect at
this time.
Toddlers may not
share toys
easily as they
consider their
toys to be most
valuable
possessions.
Expose your
toddler to other
children to help
him or her learn
the skill of
"sharing."
Kindergarten
readiness means
a child has the
ability to
listen, focus,
learn and
socialize with
other children
and adults. Help
your toddler
develop these
skills by having
your child
around other
children and
adults as well
as teaching your
child to play
alone.
When a
toddler learns
something new,
they want to it
over and over
again.
Completely
normal behaviors
for a toddler is
watching the
same program
over and over
again or doing
the same puzzle
over and over.
Do not want
worry that your
toddler is
exhibiting
obsessive-compulsive
behavior.
Of special
note, however,
is a story I
know of a little
boy who seemed
to be absolutely
"obsessed" with
certain things
in his
household. Each
night when
everyone else
had gone to bed,
this little boy
would rise and
go to the porch,
where everyone
kept their shoes
in the
summertime, and
arrange all the
shoes in an
order that
suited him. The
family used an
old bucket and
dipper for
drinking water.
This little boy
also had an
obsession with
the dipper and
how it was
positioned in
the bucket of
water. Each time
a family member
used the dipper
for water; this
little boy would
rise from
wherever he was
at the moment,
and go to the
bucket to
re-arrange the
dipper to his
liking in the
bucket. Sad to
say, this same
boy grew into a
man who
continued to
exhibit
obsessions and
compulsions and
was ultimately
diagnosed with
an
obsessive-compulsive
disorder.
I suppose the
moral to this
story is that
there are
limits, even if
the child is a
toddler. If your
child seems to
be excessively
doing things
over and over
and is still
performing these
rituals by the
age of 24
months, then you
might want to at
least mention
this to your
family doctor.
If your
toddler seems to
be afraid around
others, don't
give in to this
fear. Have your
toddler in the
company of
others more
often. He or she
will soon learn
to enjoy being
around others
instead of being
afraid.
A lot of
babies and
toddlers love
older folks as
well. Visit
older relatives,
friends, or stop
by a local
nursing home.
These visits
also provide
your baby and/or
toddler with
valuable lessons
of how to treat
older adults
with honor and
respect.
Vocabulary
development:
Your toddler
should be able
to say at least
two or three
one-syllable
words in a row
with purpose by
the age of 24
months. He or
she should start
saying things
like "My bed,"
"My teddy," etc.
You can expand
your toddler's
vocabulary by
constantly
introducing new
words. Start out
using words like
"fork," "spoon,"
"knife," then
progress to
"silverware."
Do not be
surprised if
your toddler
calls all meat
"chicken" or all
vehicles "cars."
Until about the
age of four,
toddlers tend to
generalize
objects.
If your
toddler
substitutes easy
words like "choo-choo"
for "train" or "ee-ee"
for "monkey,"
you might think
about arranging
a
speech-and-hearing
test. Most
communities
offer free early
diagnostic and
intervention
programs.
Remember that
your toddler is
always listening
to what you say
and watching
what you do. Try
to practice the
feelings of: "do
I want my child
talking and
behaving as I am
at this moment."
You might be
surprised to
know just how
much your
examples will
mold and shape
the
personalities of
your children.
Try to make your
examples
positive.
Also be
careful about
calling your
child names like
"brat" or
telling your
child that he is
"bad." He or she
most likely
believes
everything you
say, so when you
use these kinds
of names, your
toddler may
begin to learn
that he or she
truly is "bad."
Avoid name
calling at all
stages of
development in
your children's
lives.
Talk, talk,
and talk to your
child. Makes a
special effort
to listen
carefully to
what your child
has to say to
you. He or she
is usually
saying something
important. If
you ignore your
child and refuse
to listen, he
may begin to
feel
"unimportant" to
you and others
around him or
her.
Read a new
book to your
toddler every
day at a certain
time of the day.
Make it a very
special time
between you and
your toddler.
These times are
so important for
your child's
development. It
is also another
way of saying to
your toddler, I
care so much
about you and
think you are so
very special, I
take time each
day just to
spend it with
you and read a
good book. These
activities also
teach your child
to "love to read
and to love
books."
These are
just some of the
many ways in
which you can
help your baby
and/or toddler
develop normally
and for you to
understand the
development of
your growing
child.
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