What to expectIt is important to be aware of what your children understand about the
world and what they can do. All children are different in the ways they
grow and learn, so you will know about this best by knowing your own
child. However, here are some general things to think about. - Young infants, under about six months old, don’t understand that other
people exist when they are out of sight. So your infant cannot be crying
to manipulate you or make you walk the floor. Babies are responding to
their own inner needs and, the younger the baby, the more important it
is for you to try to meet those needs promptly and as well as you can.
Babies can’t wait.
- Crawlers and toddlers have learned that you exist when you are out of
sight, so you can call out that you are coming and often your older baby’s
cries will quieten.
- Toddlers see the world from their own point of view, and they think that
if they are feeling something you will be feeling it too. They are likely to
think that, if you are angry or sad, it is about them, even if it seems clear
to you that it is about something else.
- Toddlers are beginning to feel
more like independent people and want to explore their
independence, so they will often say ‘no’ (even when
they mean ‘yes’).
- Toddlers don’t have the same sense of time
as adults. They can’t hurry.
- It takes about three years for children to feel more
confident when separated from the carers they feel
safe with, and to understand that you can’t read
their minds. By this time, children have a lot more
understanding, and you can explain things to them
with words.
When you are responding to your child’s behaviour you
need to have realistic expectations of what they can
understand and do.
This
article is provided by Early Childhood Australia for
Motherhood Readers from their Everyday Learning Series
about babies' toddlers and preschoolers.
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