Twelve During the second year toddlers: Caregivers can: months to Are developing a sense of self. Expect toddlers to assert their two years Are focused upon developing autonomy and independence. autonomy and independence and Expect conflict caused by may resort to non-verbal means of attempts to gain power and control communicating their needs as they over their lives. have limited language ability. Help toddlers regulate their own Will demonstrate empathy by emotions and to calm down after offering the type of comfort that experiencing strong emotions. the him/herself finds Expect toddlers to assert some control comforting. over their environment by saying NO May understand that another child and refusing to comply with requests. is distressed but may not Provide space, support and guidance understand that it was they who for toddlers during their interactions caused the distress. with other children. Are beginning to develop single Expect toddlers to become frustrated friendships and to engage in with the limitations of own reciprocal and complementary play. abilities which may result in anger and Still have little sense of time and temper tantrums. find it difficult to wait. Provide opportunities to make simple May develop fears of imaginary choices and decisions about what they creatures and physical harm. want to do. Tend to be impulsive and do not Not expect toddlers to show remorse before they act. for hurting another child. ‘think’ Not expect toddlers to wait to have needs met. Two to During the third year: Caregivers can: years Toddlers still need to assert their Now expect toddlers to be developing autonomy and independence but an understanding of the social rules are developing a greater for acceptable behaviour. understanding of their social self. Expect them to wait for short periods Their emerging cognitive skills and to demonstrate limited amounts enable them to delay gratification of self-control and concern for others. and begin to differentiate between Expect toddlers to forget to follow acceptable and unacceptable limits and guidelines even though they behaviour. may be able to recite them. Their developing sense of self may Expect toddlers to imitate the lead to possessiveness and refusal behaviour of others and need plenty to share. of opportunity to express their search for autonomy results in feelings. intense feelings that they are Not expect them to understand the sometimes unable to control. difference between accidental or
Twelve months to two years During the second year toddlers: Are developing a sense of self. Are focused upon developing autonomy and independence and may resort to non-verbal means of communicating their needs as they have limited language ability. Will demonstrate empathy by offering the type of comfort that the him/herself finds comforting. May understand that another child is distressed but may not understand that it was they who caused the distress. Are beginning to develop single friendships and to engage in reciprocal and complementary play. Still have little sense of time and find it difficult to wait. May develop fears of imaginary creatures and physical harm. Tend to be impulsive and do not ‘think’ before they act. Caregivers can: Expect toddlers to assert their autonomy and independence. Expect conflict caused by attempts to gain power and control over their lives. Help toddlers regulate their own emotions and to calm down after experiencing strong emotions. Expect toddlers to assert some control over their environment by saying NO and refusing to comply with requests. Provide space, support and guidance for toddlers during their interactions with other children. Expect toddlers to become frustrated with the limitations of own abilities which may result in anger and temper tantrums. Provide opportunities to make simple choices and decisions about what they want to do. Not expect toddlers to show remorse for hurting another child. Not expect toddlers to wait to have needs met. Two to years During the third year: Toddlers still need to assert their autonomy and independence but are developing a greater understanding of their social self. Their emerging cognitive skills enable them to delay gratification and begin to differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. Their developing sense of self may lead to possessiveness and refusal to share. search for autonomy results in intense feelings that they are sometimes unable to control. Caregivers can: Now expect toddlers to be developing an understanding of the social rules for acceptable behaviour. Expect them to wait for short periods and to demonstrate limited amounts of self-control and concern for others. Expect toddlers to forget to follow limits and guidelines even though they may be able to recite them. Expect toddlers to imitate the behaviour of others and need plenty of opportunity to express their feelings. Not expect them to understand the difference between accidental or
Early%20Years%20Resource%20Kit.docx