What Do Toddlers Need?
Anyone who has spent time with toddlers (children from ages one to three) knows how challenging they can be! They are a whirlwind of energy, exploring everything in sight and becoming extremely independent and downright argumentative with the exclamations of “no!” They may have daily tantrums, nightly sleep problems, battles fought at the table and on the playground. And yet, in spite of all this negativity and fierce independence, toddlers can be very charming with their spontaneous hugs and kisses, endearing smiles and infectious laughter. There are two sides to every toddler as parents well know. This charming and challenging behavior is normal development for them.
How can parents cope with and enjoy this toddler age? What do toddlers need? The most important thing toddlers need is the freedom and opportunity to explore their environment. To understand their world, toddlers need to manipulate it. Of course, not everything is meant for toddler hands. Parents need to make sure the environment is childproofed. And parents need to supervise. A small toddler can get into things faster than a wink! However, parents need to train their children. If the child wants to try out the computer, a parent can sit with him and let him tap the keys. If the child wants to stir the items in the cooking bowl, let her try with help.
Toddlers also need a few limits that are clear and consistent. They often can’t control their impulses and become frightened when they lose control. Limits, set by parents and lovingly enforced, let them know what to expect as well as provide comfort and security. If a parent decides that a half hour of Sesame Street is enough for one day, then the parent sticks to that limit no matter how much the toddler protests. Learning to live with limits is essential for life in our world; and by setting limits for toddlers, parents teach self-control and self-discipline.
Most of all, toddlers need love in heaping cupfuls, seasoned with limits and opportunities to explore.
Jill Phillips
ECFE Parent Educator
Ready 4 K Joins Resources for Child Caring
The youngest Minnesotans deserve all of us working together.
That’s why we’re excited to share that as of January 1, 2012, Ready 4 K was acquired by Resources for Child Caring, allowing both organizations to build on our strengths and focus on keeping Minnesota strong. In these lean economic times, it is critical that we maximize our resources to do what’s best for our youngest Minnesotans.
The work of Ready 4 K will continue in our new home. We will be a voice for our youngest Minnesotans to build the foundation for our future through quality early care and education. With the addition of Ready 4 K’s grassroots organizing, past successes, leadership and lessons learned, RCC will be able to expand its reach statewide.
We could not have had such success without you. Read Todd Otis’s message to the Ready 4 K network.
Look for more news in the weeks ahead, including an exciting new agency name that reflects a bold new direction for our combined work.
And don’t forget to mark your calendars: Voices for Children Advocacy Day will be April 24, 2012.
Thank you for all you do on behalf of our youngest Minnesotans. We look forward to new opportunities in the future.
The Ready 4 K team,
Todd Otis
Jesse Lee
Kat Kempe