Providing for the Toddler’s Developmental Needs

1. 15 Providing for the Toddler’s Developmental Needs

2. Providing for Toddlers’ Food Needs • Food intake should always meet nutritional needs • They eat less food than infants or adults • Foods high in calories and low in nutrients should be avoided • eating too much of these empty calorie foods may cause too much weight gain now or in the future continued

3. Providing for Toddlers’ Food Needs • Food allergy is an abnormal response to a food triggered by the body’s immune system • most common foods include milk, eggs, peanuts, fish, crustacean shellfish, wheat, soybeans, tree nuts • food labels are required to list these ingredients • Registered dietitian has special training in nutrition and diet and meets the qualifications of the ADA

4. Meeting Nutritional Needs of Older Toddlers • MyPlatefood guidance system • developed by USDA • designed for people two years and older • create personalized eating plan based on age, sex, activity level (www.ChooseMyPlate.gov/) • five major food groups • grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, protein foods • oils (not a food group) included, but eaten in limited amounts • Smaller serving sizes for older toddlers

5. Clothing • Should allow toddlers to stay active, comfortable, safe • Should withstand constant movement and messy play • Sizing is not consistent • s-m-l or 18 mo. or 1T • most accurate is weight/height ranges • Self-dressing features (toilet learning) • elastic-waist pants, shorts

6. Important Features in Toddler Clothes Safety Comfort Easy care Quality construction Growth features

7. Rest and Sleep • Sleep fewer hours and take less naps than babies • Sleep needs vary • more when ill • less when stress is occurring • More likely to resist sleep • struggle for autonomy continued

8. Rest and Sleep • set a bedtime ritual (routine) • one hour a night • only restful activities • naptime rituals can also be helpful continued

9. Hygiene Bathing is one of the most important aspects of hygiene for toddlers Should not be left alone when bathing May want to bathe themselves

10. Toilet Learning • Toilet learning is the process by which adults help children control their excretory systems • Timing varies from toddler to toddler • Many toddlers do not complete the process quickly

11. When the Toddler Is Ready • Child-sized toilet, potty chair, or toilet ring should be used • step stool can help with full-sized toilets continued

12. When the Toddler Is Ready Let toddler see toilet before using may want to sit on it with clothes on Bathroom should be lit night-light easy-to-reach light switches Clothes should be easy to manage warm weather clothing is easier

13. Language Activities • Adults can enhance the toddler’s use of language • Early childhood programs that allow for play and exploration help language learning • Parents can organize their homes to promote language learning

14. Toddlers Need to Hear Language • Adults should talk to toddler’s during daily routines, games • Adults can begin talking in a conversational manner before child can respond verbally • Adults should use all types of sentences as they talk to toddlers • Adults can help toddlers learn to make different sounds

15. Clear and Simple Speech • Speech should be clear and simple • match sentences to child’s level • do not talk beneath child’s level • model language, but be relaxed about child’s language errors • Adults can expand on child’s sentences • Children will learn what they hear and will repeat it

16. Choosing Books for Toddlers • Reading books and saying rhymes helps toddlers develop language continued

17. Choosing Books for Toddlers • Pictures must be colorful and simple • Storylines should focus on toddlers’ favorite subjects • Books should be durable • Pages should be easy to turn and keep open

18. How Toddlers “Read” • Will not sit still and look at books for a long time • Tend to glance at a page and then turn to the next • May look at pictures and not listen to the entire story • Adults can name objects in the book and point, then ask toddler to point

19. Reading to Toddlers May insist on hearing same story over and over routines (especially at bedtime) help feelings of security comforting presence of adult adds security

20. Singing with Toddlers Songs that act out the meanings of words are helpful to toddlers Adults and children can make up words to mileage tunes

21. Discipline • Toddlers lack self-restraint (they cannot always control themselves) • Do not always know the rules of acceptable behavior • Parents are in Galinsky’s authority stage of parenting • Toddlers must have limits to help them learn socially acceptable behavior

22. Balancing Self-Assertion and Obedience • Self-assertion is doing as one chooses rather than what others want • Obedienceis acting within the limits set by others • Meet toddlers needs, not punish what they do wrong • each toddler has his or her own unique needs, but some needs are common continued

23. Balancing Self-Assertion and Obedience Need to feel loved Want to feel lovable Need respect Need understanding and patient guidance Need consistency in discipline

24. Developmental Delays • Infant development is generally measured through gross-motor skills • During toddler years, fine-motor skills and language become more important in indicating healthy development