Child Care Today ©2012

Chapter 15: Nurturing Toddlers

Chapter Summary

A child between the ages of 12 and 36 months is called a toddler. Toddlers have many unique physical characteristics. After infancy, growth in height and weight slows, but toddlers continue to grow. Motor development and coordination develop quickly. Greater control allows toddlers to develop self-help skills. Toddlers are ready to begin toilet training. Toddlers learn intellectually through sensorimotor development, trial and error, and imitation. They also develop an increased attention span and memory, and symbolic thinking. Vocabulary and language skills advance greatly between ages one and three. The ability to understand concepts increases with language development. During assimilation, children try to make new information fit with what they already know. During accommodation, children change their thinking to make new information fit. Toddlers are still learning emotional control. They also develop a sense of autonomy and have specific emerging fears. A sense of security is a primary need. Social development progresses slowly for toddlers. Toddlers engage mostly in solitary or parallel play. Foster independence by promoting self-help skills in toddlers.

Create activities that help toddlers develop both large- and small-motor skills. Teachers can encourage intellectual development through activities that allow toddlers to use their senses. Toddlers understand much more language than they can speak. Help toddlers identify and manage new emotions, and help build self-esteem. Child care professionals may have to help children with separation anxiety, negativism, and temper tantrums. Toddlers can learn simple rules of behavior and to share with others.

Age ranges in toddler classrooms vary. Toddler spaces are designed to help them develop new abilities and gain independence. Routines provide structure for daily events.