Let the problem-solving begin – it just might help you get your cup of tea!
There may be times when your toddler comes across a challenge during their day, or something might puzzle them. Your instinct might be to rush right over and help them find a solution. But to help raise a resilient toddler, who’s able to think and make decisions, sometimes a pause is what the situation needs.
When we problem-solve we seek solutions
Mini you, mini them – what your toddler is learning from watching family and friends
Have you noticed you have a ‘mini me’ next to you sometimes? Your toddler copying little movements and actions made by you or other family members is incredibly cute and often very funny. Being able to imitate the actions of others is a fascinating stage of development for so many reasons...
Your toddler is now bringing together cognitive, physical, social and emotional skills when copying the movements of others.
Study shows we should ask for help more often – it makes everyone feel good!
Your baby is becoming a toddler before your eyes. Parenting at this stage can be hard for many reasons, not least the ups and downs that come with this transition to being an independent toddler – and that’s an emotional rollercoaster! It’s important to ask for help when you need it, and recent research has highlighted that other people actually like to be asked when you need some support.
Social psychologist Xuan Zhao, and her colleagues at Stanford University, created and ran some experiments to find out what impact asking someone for help has on the people involved in their research paper, which they called ‘Surprisingly Happy to Have Helped’.[1]
Carrying the load – now your toddler might want to get involved
Your toddler is becoming steadier on their feet, and with this skill comes the ability to walk while doing something else. As adults we do this all the time: walking while talking, carrying shopping and looking out for traffic is second nature, but our toddlers are learning to manage by adding new elements, little by little. This is a perfect opportunity to ask them for help carrying the load as part of your day-to-day jobs.
At the moment, your toddler is learning to walk while carrying an object without losing their balance.
Changing direction or walking backwards are incredibly complex skills!
We do it often and without thinking, but for your toddler, changing direction while walking is a really tricky skill to master. It involves not only the physical actions of moving their legs and body in the right direction, but also a whole lot of sensory messages as their body moves in this new way.
Your toddler’s body needs to learn which muscles to move differently when they take a step backwards, compared to the more familiar forwards motion. This requires plenty of practice and often very slow movements at first, but it does come naturally to most children as they become confident walkers.[1]
Let’s think about eating... how our muscles help at mealtimes
Mealtimes can be messy events, especially at the moment. For toddlers, learning how to get food into their mouths without a few spills and sticky faces along the way will take time, practice and muscular coordination. So keep the wet cloth handy...
What motor skills are being used when they’re eating?
We're going ballistic! The science behind throwing a ball
Throwing is one of those skills that many people feel they either can or can’t do. It sounds like it should be simple, “Throw the ball,” but the reality is, it's more complex than you might think.
It’s actually very scientific!
Jump, jump, a little higher – what jumping looks like for your toddler
Jumping with both feet in the air takes an enormous amount of confidence. When your toddler first tries to jump, it might look very much like lifting one foot into the air, followed by lifting the other foot when the first one meets the ground again. This is the beginning of jumping, and is cause for celebration!
Pre-jumping
A favourite mug or evening podcast – harness the power of your daily rituals
Do you start the day with a cup of tea in your favourite mug? Need five minutes scrolling before you can relax in the evening (however tired you are)? These are things that you might not think about – until the day you can’t fit them in. Your small daily rituals are important for your wellbeing, so should still be a part of your life, without feeling like another pressure.
Simple daily rituals can reduce your stress levels
10 life-long skills your toddler will achieve by learning how to twist their wrists
Being able to turn their wrist while holding an object is a fascinating skill, and one that will eventually enable your toddler to get so many essential tasks done in life. Let's look at what they might use that twist of the wrist for...
1) Opening doors and drawers that have knobs
