Joni Levine - 365 Toddler Activities That Inspire Creativity: Games, Projects, and Pastimes That Encourage a Childs Learning and Imagination

Toddlerhood, which encompasses the ages of eighteen months to three years, is an exciting period of your childs development. You have most likely noticed that shes growing rapidly and quickly acquiring many new skills and abilities. It may seem to you that just yesterday she was an infant, very passive and dependent on you. Now you can see that she is on the threshold of becoming a full-fledged individual.

Your toddler is truly caught in a time of transition. She is just starting to develop her own sense of self. At first, her only knowledge of her identity was that she was united with you. During the first few months of her life, she developed an attachment to you (and you with her). Her first relationship was with you. Now, however, she is slowly starting to see herself as a separate person, and soon she will develop new relationships.

Togetherness This time of becoming an individual includes separation and can be difficult for toddlers. However, when she knows that she can rely on you for love, comfort, and reassurance, she will be emboldened to take those first tentative steps away from you. In the meantime, you can assume youll be doing all of the activities in this book side by side!

Many toddlers begin to experience some feelings of separation anxiety anywhere from the eighth to twenty-fourth month. If your child is experiencing separation anxiety, she may become clingy and resistant to any separation. She may throw a temper tantrum and exhibit fear and anxiety around other people, even those who are familiar.

You may not be able to prevent your child from experiencing separation anxiety, but the way you respond can make things easier for all:

Be sympathetic.

Continue to be available to your child for comfort and reassurance.

Whenever possible, avoid forcing her into situations that will be difficult.

When your child feels safe and secure, she will outgrow separation anxiety.

As your toddler develops, she acquires many new skills. Along with physical and cognitive development, she is also maturing emotionally. You may find that your toddlers emotions are very close to the surface. Like flipping a light switch, she may go from happy and calm to fussy and agitated. At this age, she is likely to be easily overwhelmed and frustrated. Your calm, patient demeanor will be beneficial as you help her cope with and appropriately express her emotions.

You have probably noticed your toddler beginning to show a desire for independence. No longer completely dependent on you, she may even resist you during care-giving routines. She may start to insist, Me do it, or Let me try. Your child is developing autonomy. It is important that you give her opportunities to have some independence and to be sure to recognize both her efforts and her accomplishments. Many of the activities in this book will help you do just that.

Along with this new desire for independence comes the wish for some degree of control and power. Your toddler is starting to learn that she can influence both the events and the people around her. Feeling a sense of autonomy and power is an important emotional milestone. Engaging her in activities that promote creativity and role-playing is a good way to show your child how to accept and manage these new emotions. Children who are restricted in this area can become doubtful of their abilities and may be reluctant to try things or act independently later on.