Emotional Needs of Toddlers

Warm, accepting, close relationships provide the foundation for healthy emotional development for toddlers. Your sensitive and responsive interactions with a child are more important than any toy.

Toddlers (1 to 2 ½ years) need opportunities to explore, be responsible, and make significant choices. You should encourage toddlers to do things for themselves, such as feeding and dressing. This promotes mastery over their environment and confidence in their abilities. Plan activities that allow for independence, yet be careful not to frustrate them with an activity that is still too difficult.

Toddlers often respond to situations without being aware of their emotional state. You should help toddlers sort out their feelings by giving words to them when they are scared, angry, or excited. Helping toddlers identify their emotions and use language is an important part of your job. For example, some toddlers may bite their playmates when angry or frustrated. Their verbal skills are not developed enough to respond with words, so they resort to biting.

To meet the emotional needs of toddlers, make sure you:

• Encourage the development of self-help skills when they are ready 
• Encourage and support their developmental achievements such as walking, talking, and climbing
• Listen and expand toddlers’ emerging language: "That is a big, hairy dog with a loud bark."
• When they are frustrated, angry, tired, happy give them the words they need to express that emotion
• Imitate and model desired behaviors: "I am done with this toy so I will put it in the toy box now."
• Compliment on the accomplishments: "You reached the red ball under the table. That was hard work."

Related Training:
Stages of Social and Emotional Development in Toddlers (1 hour / .1 CEU)
Infant and Toddler Care Training Package
45 Hours Infant and Toddler Focus
Toddler Teacher - 10 Hours Traditional STARS
Surviving Toddlerhood (2 hours / .2 CEU)

           

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