Emotional and social development From ages 1-3

18 months Become self centered Self-centered- they think about their own needs and wants and not those of others Because during infancy, they learned caregivers will meet their needs and desires quickly

18 months Negativism- doing the opposite of what others want Is normal for toddlers Causes: desire for independence, frustration over wanting to do more than their bodies and language allows, realization of being a separate person from caregiver

Curbing negativism Give choices Redirect the child Encourage talking

Emotional roller coaster 18 months- defiant, establishing control 2 years- affectionate, may be in caregiver’s way 2 ½ years- may feel overwhelmed, frustration becomes anger 3 years- generally happy, eager to help 3 ½ years- child is bothered by fears

Temper tantrums Release anger or frustration by screaming, crying, kicking, pounding and holding their breath Starts around 18 months and stops around 3 or 4 Calmer ages: 2 and 3 years More frustrations: 18 months 2 ½ years

frustrations 18 month old- expressed physically and not directed toward any particular person or thing 3 year old- expressed verbally and less explosively and is directed toward the person or thing that is responsible for the problem

Handling frustrations and anger Use words Speak calmly Take deep breaths Rest for a while Discuss misbehavior and consequences after child has calmed down

Separation anxiety fear of being away from parents, caregivers, or normal environment Can upset parents or make them feel guilty This is a stage that kids will grow out of

How to deal with fears Offer support and understanding without making them feel ashamed Encourage children to talk about fears Accept fears rather than confront them Read books about children who have fears Make unfamiliar situations more secure Teach children how to control frightening situations

jealousy 18 months jealousy is pronounced Peaks when child is 3 Sibling rivalry- competition between brother or sisters for parents’ affection and attention

How to deal with sibling rivalry Show love and affection to each child Give each child one-on-one time Avoid comparing one child with another Let children take turns Do not accept tattling Talk to children about their jealousy

Love and affection Learning to love at ages 1-3 provides foundation for LIFE Children must learn to love Empathy- ability to understand how another person feels Demonstrated at age 2

Self concept How children see themselves Positive or negative Formed in response to the actions, attitudes, and comments of others ages 1-3 are crucial in this development Parents are strongest influences on the development of child’s self concept

Positive relationships Important for toddlers to have healthy relationships with parents and siblings as it shapes the relationships that children have later in life Signs: seeks approval and praise, turns to parents/caregivers for comfort and help, tells caregivers about significant events, accepts limits and discipline

Sleep, emotions, and behavior Importance of adequate sleep Avoid sleep deprivation to develop and function properly 12-14 hours each night

Sleep deprivation Signs: Must be awakened in morning Tired all day Has trouble thinking Cranky and hard to get along with

How to get adequate sleep Determine child’s best bedtime Limit toys in the bed Establish a bedtime routine Keep bedtime pleasant

socialization Learning how to get along with other people Starts with own family and then branches out to other groups

Parallel play vs. cooperative play Parallel play- playing near, but not actually with, other children (18 months up to age 3) Cooperative play- actually playing with another child (age 3 and on)

Helping and pleasing others Age 2- want to please others; sometimes willing to put wishes of someone else ahead of their own Age 2 ½ - may do something for one person but not for another for no reason; they are beginning to understand fairness Age 3- will share, help or do things another person’s way just to please them Age 3 ½ - will share toys and put up with things they don’t like in order to be with someone they like

Making Friends Important to normal social development Children need to feel comfortable with others their own age. Children need to learn how to handle having their feelings hurt, sharing, not getting their own way Help children solve problems, disagreements; avoid imposing a solution for them

Imaginary friends As early as two; ages 3 and 4 common Helpful to experiment with different feelings Seeky and Conquer

Guidelines for Guidance Using firmness and understanding to help children learn how to control their own behavior Learns self-discipline and a conscience

Stages of guidance 12-15 months: distractions and removal from situations 15 months-2 years: spoken restrictions and distractions/removal 2-3 years: spoken commands and simple explanations 3 years: accept reasonable, loving guidance/requests Consistency helps children know what is expected of them and what responses they can expect from parents

Setting limits Show an understanding of child’s desires Set limits and explain it Acknowledge the child’s feelings Give alternatives

autonomy Developing independence Increases confidence and sense of responsibility Patience is important

sharing Encourage activities that require sharing and taking turns Limit materials so that sharing must occur Have children take turns handing out snacks Make clear that you want them to share

Aggressive behaviors Biting Hitting Address problem behavior Try to determine underlying cause