Social-Emotional Development of the Toddler

1. Social-Emotional Development of the Toddler Chapter 13

2. 2 things happen to toddlers: • 1. they find out more about their world • 2. find the world is not solely devoted to their needs

3. Self Awareness • 1st birthday they have highly developed physical and mental skills • Reach things themselves • Beginning to talk • Express their needs • Reactions of others’ affect how they see and understand themselves

4. Self awareness emerges as separate, possessing self and a drive for independence • Me and mine • Know what belongs to them and what they can and can’t do physically

5. Toddlers become more aware of others’ feelings toward them • Realize they can be praised, thwarted and hurt emotionally

6. Achieving Autonomy • Erikson says social-emotional development begins in infancy • (see page 321, figure 31-2) • Second stage, autonomy verses shame and doubt = begins 12 to 18 months and ends at age 3 • Autonomy = form of self control in which a person seeks to do his or her will

7. Autonomy builds on toddlers expanding motor and mental skills • Proud of their new skills and want to use them • Independent feeling comes from toddlers’ increasing self awareness

8. Allow toddlers to be more independent and do what they can at their own pace • Toddlers may misjudge their abilities • Adults must set limits • Toddlers may be defiant • Center on routines, like bathing, mealtimes, dressing, sleeping

9. When a toddler does not get his or her way they need help controlling their negative impulses • Calm controls are helpful and not damaging to a toddler • Damage occurs when caregiver takes over for them and criticizes them (shame & doubt)

10. Promoting Autonomy • Give toddlers safe choices • Creative ways to build toddlers feeling of independence and practice new skills • First choices should be simple • Indoor play vs outdoor play • Allow to choose one • If not allowed to follow through you undermine the toddler

11. Caregivers need to step in and redirect a toddler before he or she engages in a forbidden or unsafe activity • Caregivers should remain calm

12. Extending Social Relations • Healthy attachment to main caregiver • Allows toddler to expand to other adults • Babysitter, relatives, neighbors • Children learn to expect differences among people

13. Getting Along with Other Children • 2 years they tend to interact more with other children • Interactions are brief • Imitate each other’s action (play) • Possessive of their toys and belongings • Not quite ready to share

14. May return snatched toy if owner cries • May not be quite as self-centered

15. Self-Esteem • Feeling good about yourself • High self esteem makes you feel you are worthwhile

16. Toddlers more aware of their bodies • Can name some parts • May not know which senses are used • Can feel pain but may not know where it is • Can’t tell someone where it hurts

17. Emotions • Toddlers react to more stimuli than infants • Toddlers can better sense emotions in others • Fear in adults, sense something is wrong • Toddlers’ motor skills allow them more physical responses • Toddlers’ abilities to imagine increase the number of negative emotions • Fear of the dark, monsters, etc

18. Affection • Still attached to caregivers • Express affection by wanting to be near • Seek caregivers when faced with a strange situation

19. Fear • Fears increase quickly after age two because toddler know about more things to fear • Can imagine things • May fear animals, darkness, “bad people” • Don’t talk but act out fears in play

20. To ease fear • Adults should monitor TV watching • American Academy of Pediatrics advise parents to avoid TV viewing for children age two or less.

21. Anxiety • Separation anxiety continues into and beyond toddler hood • Increased language skills help • Nightmares may begin • Way of dealing with anxiety • Stem from fear of being alone, getting hurt or angering adults • Decrease in time

22. Anger • Desire more independence, strong willed • Temper tantrums = sudden emotional outbursts of anger commonly displayed by toddlers • Meant to attract attention • Ignoring him or her might be the best option

23. After the tantrum is over, give them love and reassurance • Real anger is not directed at anyone until age 3