Toddler Growth and Development

You help me learn and communicate though games, songs and reading books.

Learning to use words is really important. Language helps my brain build patterns to work in an organised way. I love it when you listen to me. I love it when you talk to me.

You let me know when I am tired or hungry and you are ready to meet my needs. You offer new and exciting places to go and people to meet.

I am beginning to test my independence. You let me try new things while being there for me if I need reassurance. If I need to, I can have a cuddle or hold a hand.

You use my name, talk to me and enjoy spending time with me. If you feel happy with me, it makes me feel that I am a real person who matters to other people.

I have the confidence to do new things because you are with me and I feel safe.

I am more confident and feel a bit silly when I think that I was amazed by simple sounds or lights as a baby. Now I like to show I'm more grown up. But I still find lots of new experiences in the world which can scare me.

I need your help to learn about things that look nice but can harm me (like fire) and things that look scary but won't hurt me (like Halloween or scary stories).