Parent vs. toddler
Toddlers constantly play games in which they test the physical
properties of their environment. They confirm the law of gravity, the
stickiness of juice, the wetness of water, and the heat of flame. They
also discover their parents’ distress when they have gone too far.
Toddlers learn by exploring— by looking, doing, and touching. They can
now use their eyes and hands to satisfy their curiosity and now that
they are walking, they can decide what to look at, touch, and feel.
It is important for toddlers to touch things in order to learn. But they
have no idea what is unsafe to touch or eat. Toddler-proof your home by
putting things you don’t want the toddler to have out of reach. This
will decrease the number of times each day you hear yourself saying
“no-no.”
Toddlers are also beginning to develop a sense of worth or self-esteem.
As they begin to feel confident, they will sense your support as you
encourage learning. If toddlers are stopped from exploring with a lot of
“no-no’s,” they may begin to feel sad and confused. They need love and
encouragement to explore and learn.
Of course, rules must be introduced and enforced. Toddlers must be given
consistent messages to help them develop self-control. Toddlers need
their parents to provide rules that will help them explore, learn, and
satisfy their curiosity safely in a large and sometimes frightening new
world. Parents should teach their toddlers, by example and loving
discipline, respect for living things and dangerous objects.
