Learning about themselves and other people, challenging stereotypes and celebrating diversity
Your toddler is interested in the world around them, including the people they meet. To understand the world they group together things they think are similar, in what are described as schemas – so your toddler might have a people schema and within that, group people together according to similarities they notice (or that other people seem to think are important). This organisation of information can lead to your toddler developing stereotypical views.
For example, if they see a male doctor in real life, then in a story and on a TV programme they might think doctors are always men.
Researchers have found that babies prefer faces from their own racial group over others,[1] and that toddlers show bias towards their own race when selecting who and what toys to play with.
Watch this two-minute video from the NSPCC – parents' tips for supporting children’s behaviour
We all have moments with our children that feel difficult. The NSPCC asked parents to share their tips for when children’s behaviour feels hard to handle.
Remember to take five minutes – if you need to!
Are you ready..? What your baby learns from anticipation and excitement in songs and games
It’s no surprise for parents that babies love to play peek-a-boo or hear rhymes with a big reveal at the end, both of which often result in those addictive baby giggles. These games and rhymes with predictable actions are supporting their development while they play.
While they enjoy the predictable actions and sense of anticipation, your baby is also learning about lots of social skills, such as turn-taking, waiting and understanding social cues, language and facial expression. By experiencing these silly, playful moments with you from this very young age, they are building connections and developing expectations which will be helpful as they grow and begin to interact with others.
Your baby will learn from traditional favourites or from your very own giggle game
Your baby will enjoy any games or rhymes with a familiar and predictable sequence of actions. As they begin to anticipate what is going to happen next, you can pause and give them time to enjoy the excitement of waiting for the next step!
Shyness, embarrassment, guilt and pride: helping your child navigate new emotions
Does your child seem to be shy, embarrassed, guilty or proud now, is this something you haven’t noticed before?
You might feel a bit concerned if your confident, lively child seems to be becoming shy or embarrassed – maybe you’ve been wondering if something has changed or if you need to do something quickly in response to this change. What you might be noticing is an important part of your child’s development as they become more self-aware.
Your child demonstrating what are described as ‘self-conscious emotions’ shows that they are taking another step in their development.
Blankets, bears and bye-bye – what are transitional objects and why should you value them as much as your child does?
Does your child have a toy or object that has to go everywhere with them? We’ve met children with attachments to blankets, soft toys and even kitchen utensils and vegetables. Not all children have these objects, and researchers suggest that the reason for this is a combination of nature and nurture. For example, they found attachment objects were more common among children who slept in their own room from being babies.[1] Whether or not your child has a favourite that travels with them at the moment, you might find it useful to learn more about what 'transitional objects’ are and how they can be useful for coping with change as your child grows
The term ‘transitional object’ was introduced by paediatrician and psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott in 1951, to describe the blankets, bits of fabric and toys that children became deeply attached to early in childhood. Winnicott suggested these objects supported children as they developed their sense of themselves as a separate individual, rather than as linked to their mother as one unit.[2]
Why does my baby cry when another baby cries?
Your baby’s response to another baby’s cry may or may not show that they are feeling concerned for the baby, but it does show that your baby is aware of those around them.
Three theories about make-believe play – what scientists say about pretending
We know play supports your toddler to develop a range of skills, but over the years there have been debates among scientists about exactly how. Make-believe play is something we often take for granted, perhaps as our children hand us a ‘cup of tea’; but how does pretending help your toddler learn about the world? We’ve looked at how three psychologists and their ideas about this kind of play answer the question.
Sigmund Freud – neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis (early 20th Century)
All smiles! Connecting, communicating and feeling good
When you hear your baby's first giggle, it becomes your family’s collective mission to get as many smiles and laughs from them as you can. Smiling and laughter demonstrate an important step in your child’s social and emotional development and becomes part of their toolbox as a way of communicating with you.
Smiling is a great way of creating social interactions
Social learning – your toddler’s eyes are on you
American author Robert Fulghum said, “Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.”
This can be a useful thing to remember as your toddler grows and develops – they learn not only when you feel like you’re teaching them something, maybe when playing or chatting, but also by watching what you do every day.
What is social learning theory?
Stages of play - how your child starts to play with other children
Do you ever wonder if your toddler should have friends? They might seem happy playing on their own or be interested in watching others, but not really play with them.
There are many theories about play and how children develop their social interactions and friendships.
