1. Social and Cognitive Development of Toddlers By Nicole Rios

2. Psychosocial Development Milestones and Theories…

3. Question: Why does the toddler stage mark such a significant increase in human independence?

4. Toddler’s Independence Rapidly increasing motor developing enables toddlers to move around with ease and care for some of their own needs Able to make choices and decisions Develop independence from diapers Able to feed themselves Able to imitate other children and adults more capably Experience rapidly increasing communicative skills

5. Question: What are some social and emotional milestones for toddlers?

6. Psychosocial Development Milestones Age 1 to Age 3 –Demonstrates increasing autonomy and desire to complete tasks independently –Engages in self-help tasks –Exhibits prosocial behaviors, such as sharing, helping, cooperating –Follows directions –Forms attachments with people outside of the immediate family –Begins to express empathy for others

7. Question: How do we promote social and emotional development in toddlers?

8. Promoting Psychosocial Development in Toddlers Encourage self-help tasks Model and teach prosocial behaviors Encourage play and interaction with other toddlers and people Model and teach empathy Offer choices Provide nurture, guidance, and support

9. Psychosocial Theories Erickson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development Attachment Theory Social Learning Theory and Social Cognition

10. Erikson’s Theory: Toddler Stage Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (1-3) Toddlers develop a sense of autonomy when: They have a strong sense of trust in infancy They feel self-sufficient and capable –Toddlers develop shame/doubt when adults do not support the toddler’s need for autonomy.

11. Case Study 1: Travis is almost three years old. He is always reluctant to try new things. He is excited when he feels he is successful. However, if he senses he has made a mistake, he is easily frustrated, gives up, and refuses help from a caregiver. These interactions often end in temper tantrums.

12. Attachment Theory: Proximity Seeking Toddlers are the stage of “Proximity Seeking” –Toddlers closely monitors the presence of the attachment person –Toddler seeks to be near attachment person –Toddler stays close to attachment person, then ventures off (checking back with attachment person periodically)

13. Case Study 2: Kayla is three years old and attends her child care center 2 days a week. When her mom drops her off, she distracts Kayla with some toys and then slips out without saying good-bye. The child care professionals note each day that the first half hour of her stay, Kayla cries hysterically.

14. Attachment Theory: Extrafamilial Relationships Toddlers begin to develop extrafamilial relationships (outside the family) –These relationships can include neighbors, friends, babysitters, etc. –Positive extrafamilial relationships contribute to the healthy psychosocial development of the toddler –Toddlers who did not develop secure attachments during infancy may struggle to develop extrafamilial relationships

15. Question: What does attachment theory tell us about the emotional needs of toddlers?

16. Social Learning Theory and Social Cognition: Toddlers are characterized by egocentrism –Toddlers (according to Piaget) are incapable of understanding another person’s perspective –Toddlers believe that others see, hear, and feel the same thing that he/she does

17. ProSocial Behaviors Prosocial Behaviors: –Are any behaviors that benefit (without expecting a reward) –Help to counteract egocentrism –Encourage children to help, share, cooperate, etc –Are taught through modeling and guidance

18. Case Study 3: Amelia and Luke are toddlers in a child care center. Amelia wants to play with a toy that Luke is playing with. She walks over to Luke, takes the toy from him, and begins to play on her own. Luke is clearly frustrated and walks over to Amelia, hits her, and exclaims, “That’s my toy!”

19. Fear and Anxiety It is also common for toddlers to have fears Even though the fears may not be reasonable to us, they can be very real and disturbing to the child The caregiver should help the toddler to cope with the fear by: –Being sensitive to the toddler –Helping the toddler gain control over the fear

20. Case Study 4: Alex is a two year old boy. He is terrified of garbage trucks. Every time he hears the garbage truck come through the neighborhood, he runs to his caregiver and frantically cries until the garbage truck has left the neighborhood.

21. Cognitive and Language Development Milestones and Theories…

22. Question: What are some cognitive and language milestones for toddlers?

23. Cognitive and Language Development Milestones Age 1 to Age 3 –Use groups of words and sentences to communicate –Retell experiences –Imitate behaviors that they have observed previously –Use mental images or symbols in imaginative play –Begins to grasp cause and effect

24. Case Study 5 Lucy is a three year old who recently started attending daycare. Her caregiver notices that she has a very limited vocabulary. Although she uses groups of words to communicate, she does not speak in complete sentences. After talking to the parents, the caregiver finds out that Lucy was previously cared for by her elderly grandparents who were nurturing, but very quiet and inactive.

25. Cognitive Theories Piaget’s Theory Information Processing Theory Multiple Intelligences Theory

26. Piaget’s Theory: The Toddler’s Stage of Development In the Preoperational Stage (2-7 years), children: –Are egocentric –Have a developed language system –Have a vivid imagination –Understand simple concepts and cause and effect relationships (without using trial and error), but may have difficulty explaining them –Use mental symbols –Have illogical reasoning

27. Question: How can we use imaginative play to promote development in toddlers?

28. Information Processing Theory According to this theory, toddlers: –Have a limited capacity to remember things –Have a short attention span –Remember experiences that are repeated or exciting/novel ( a birthday party, a trip to Disneyland, etc)

29. Question: Based on this theory, what types of activities or lessons would support the cognitive development of toddlers?

30. Multiple IntelligencesTheory According to this theory there are 8 intelligences: –Visual –Linguistic (verbal) –Musical –Spatial –logical-mathematical –Bodily-kinesthetic –Interpersonal (understanding others) –Intrapersonal (understanding self) –Naturalist (understanding natural and human-made patterns)

31. Question: Do you agree with Gardner’s theory that there are different types of intelligence? Why or why not?

32. Weekly Quote We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. ~Stacia Tauscher

33. References Puckett, M. & Black, J. (2005). The Young Child. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.