UNDERSTANDING TODDLERS TO HELP THEM THRIVE
BY SARAH R. MOORE
Toddlers are fascinating creatures. Seemingly overnight, they transform from cuddly lumps of baby into walking, talking people with so many feelings about the world! No longer are they content to be carried all day as comfortable observers; now, they like to actively participate in life. Learning through play and direct involvement are how they decipher everything from the inner workings of the cat’s tail to what happens when dishes hit the floor. Toddlers are among the most dedicated and focused life scientists on the planet. Aside from in utero, their brains are changing in more significant ways than at any other time in their lives:
Although development continues into early adult years, early childhood represents a period particularly important to the development of a healthy brain. The foundations of sensory and perceptual systems that are critical to language, social behavior, and emotion are formed in the early years and are strongly influenced by experiences during this time. As parents and caregivers, however, it can feel overwhelming as we wonder how to nurture the budding brains of our children. It’s only when we’ve just finally “figured out” what they needed as babies (“Oh, that’s the perfect schedule”), they change everything on us. It’s all part of normal toddler development.
