2. Toddler Emotional Development

3. Self-Awareness Toddlers become aware of how they look what belongs to them what they can and cannot do how others feel about them

4. Theoretical Connection Erikson’s Stages of Personality Development 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 Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt Seek some autonomy Seek Control Success Leads to pride Failure leads to Shame and Doubt

5. Achieving Autonomy Builds on the toddler’s expanding motor and mental skills Toddlers are proud of new skills and feel very independent Easily misjudge skills How you can help: Recognize toddler’s need to try new tasks without help Set limits on actions to ensure safety Provide calm controls to aid toddlers in controlling their negative impulses Avoid overprotecting, criticizing, or impatience Provide safe, simple choices

6. Discussion Question With your table discuss simple ways parents, teachers, and strangers can help toddlers develop autonomy. You should have at least 3 examples

7. Interactions with Other Children Begin to interact with other children more during the second year brief, imitate one another’s actions, may talk to one another later Are possessive of belongings Not as self-centered as previously thought share toy with a crying child, praise, show concern

8. Toddlers and Self-Esteem Children become more aware of themselves as physical beings Toddlers become more aware of their bodies and what their bodies can do Toddlers must feel loved, even when they make mistakes Toddlers feel good about themselves Toddlers receive a positive response Toddlers feel confident interacting with others

9. Emotions React to more stimuli than infants Can better sense emotions in others Increase in motor skills allow them more physical responses Abilities to imagine increase the number of negative emotions, such as fear cannot fully separate real from pretend

10. Fear Fear increases after two years of age because toddlers know about more things to fear know of more objects and situations can imagine scary things Tend to act out fear through play Handle fears in a matter-of-fact way never tease or push toddlers about fears

11. Anxiety Some separation anxiety continues can be overcome by feeling loved and knowing caregiver will return increased language skills help toddlers understand why parents sometimes leave Nightmares, which may begin around two years of age, are a way of dealing with anxiety

12. Affection Toddlers are still attached to their caregivers Express affection by wanting to be near them Seek caregivers when faced with a strange situation Attachment to caregivers seems to help other aspects of social-emotional development

13. Anger When goals are dissatisfied, toddlers react with anger Temper tantrums are common during the second year Temper tantrums meant to attract attention, not directed at anyone ignoring behavior may make it stop give reassurance and love after the episode

14. Discussion question With others at your table discuss the following situation: Your toddler is frightened to go to sleep at night because she is afraid of the dark and often has nightmares. How could you help her with these fears? Write down your ideas