TODDLER UNIT

 Physical Development of Toddlers

Motor Development  Large-muscle development refers to the development of trunk, arm, and leg muscles Large-muscle development  walking  running  jumping  climbing  throwing and catching

Small-Muscle Development  Small-muscle development refers to the development of small muscles, especially those in hands and fingers Small-muscle development  fine-motor skills depend on a child’s level of eye-hand coordination  Eye-hand coordination is the ability to coordinate what a person sees with the way the person moves his or her hands Eye-hand coordination

Small-Muscle Development End of first year: Hold object with thumb and index finger By 12–18 months: Hold spoon in fist By 15 months: Fill empty containers and hold a pencil or crayon in fist

Small-Muscle Development  By 15 months, most toddlers can  remove hat and socks  insert rather large objects into holes  turn pages of a book several at a time  begin to fit objects together  build a tower of two to three soft blocks

Small-Muscle Development  Fine-motor skills improve even more between 18 months and 2 years  string large beads on string  turn pages of book one at a time  turn doorknobs  hit pegs with hammer  better hold of crayon

Think About It  Learning Through Play pg. 297  Is the son normal??

 Intellectual Development of Toddlers

How and What Toddlers Learn  Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development  infants complete first four substages of sensorimotor stage (birth to two years) substages 1 and 2 involve baby’s own body substages 3 and 4 involve people and objects

How and What Toddlers Learn  Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development  Toddlers complete last two substages of sensorimotor stage  Older toddlers may enter the preoperational stage

How and What Toddlers Learn  Substage 5 – (12-18 months)  experiment with objects to receive various results  notice some attributes of objects (sometimes color, sometimes size)  use physical trial/error to solve problems  imitate behaviors they have never done before; imitate only in presence of a model  look for hidden objects in last place seen

How and What Toddlers Learn  Substage 6 – (18-24 months)  think about ways to solve problems without using physical actions in trial/error  think through sequence of a few steps to solve problem  do some deferred imitation  know all objects and people are someplace; hunt for objects in every possible place  Done with the first stage of cognitive development – The Sensorimotor Stage = )

 Social Emotional Development of Toddlers

Toddlers Find out more about the world, and about themselves as individuals Find out the world is not solely devoted to their needs

Achieving Autonomy  Erikson’s Stages of Personality Development  First stage of personality development is called Trust versus Mistrust  Second stage of personality development is called Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt  begins for most children sometime between 12 and 18 months  completed about 3 years of age

Achieving Autonomy  Children who successfully complete this stage (reach autonomy) feel secure and confident, while those who do not are left with a sense of inadequacy and self-doubt.  feature=related feature=related

Achieving Autonomy  Autonomy is a form of self-control in which a toddler seeks to do his or her own will Autonomy  builds on the toddler’s expanding motor and mental skills  Toddlers are proud of new skills and feel very independent  Easily misjudge skills

Achieving Autonomy Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt Seek some autonomy Seek control Autonomy leads to self-pride Failure leads to shame and doubt

Promoting Autonomy  Provide safe, simple choices  red or blue shoes  Offer choices that will be honored  Redirect before negative or unsafe actions begin What is redirecting? How can you redirect someone?

Self-Esteem Toddlers feel good about themselves Toddlers receive a positive response Toddlers feel confident interacting with others

Temper Tantrums  When goals are not met, toddlers react with anger  Temper tantrums are common during second year Temper tantrums  meant to attract attention, not directed at anyone  ignoring behavior may make it stop  give reassurance and love after episode