You are likely to notice many changes in your child as she transitions from her second to her third birthday. It’s important to promote a positive environment for your child during this time as she becomes more independent from you.
Even though your child is trying to be independent, she will still experience periods with frustration when things don’t go her way or when she has difficulty making choices.
Plan to be flexible with your routines and make appropriate changes when possible to accommodate your child’s behavior. Try to choose activities that will allow you to say yes as often as possible and set examples of appropriate language and behavior for your child.
You still are helping your child to develop his language skills during this time in her life, so make sure you use loving actions to demonstrate how people talk to each other and play with each other. You also can help build her verbal skills by expanding on what she says.
During this time of your child’s life, it’s good to provide dress-up clothes, child-size household equipment, and small tables and chairs for your child. This will help her to imitate activities that she sees other family members involved in while also reinforcing appropriate communication and social responses to family members.
During this stage of her life, always look for opportunities to praise your child’s developmental milestones. If she is having a temper tantrum or being bossy, redirect her to activities and materials that will provide practice for more appropriate behaviors. Making this time in her life a positive one will be very important to your child’s social development.
Susan Matherly is director at A Children’s Place, a service of Ephraim McDowell Health. She has a bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science and a master’s degree in public health education. She can be contacted at (859) 236-7176.
Even though your child is trying to be independent, she will still experience periods with frustration when things don’t go her way or when she has difficulty making choices.
Plan to be flexible with your routines and make appropriate changes when possible to accommodate your child’s behavior. Try to choose activities that will allow you to say yes as often as possible and set examples of appropriate language and behavior for your child.
You still are helping your child to develop his language skills during this time in her life, so make sure you use loving actions to demonstrate how people talk to each other and play with each other. You also can help build her verbal skills by expanding on what she says.
During this time of your child’s life, it’s good to provide dress-up clothes, child-size household equipment, and small tables and chairs for your child. This will help her to imitate activities that she sees other family members involved in while also reinforcing appropriate communication and social responses to family members.
During this stage of her life, always look for opportunities to praise your child’s developmental milestones. If she is having a temper tantrum or being bossy, redirect her to activities and materials that will provide practice for more appropriate behaviors. Making this time in her life a positive one will be very important to your child’s social development.
Susan Matherly is director at A Children’s Place, a service of Ephraim McDowell Health. She has a bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science and a master’s degree in public health education. She can be contacted at (859) 236-7176.
