Sharing
As a baby becomes a toddler (in the second year of life), they begin to understand the concept of ownership. However, they tend to believe that they own everything. Whether it’s the neighbor’s dog, mommy’s wallet or a friend’s toy, all get the same label – “mine”.
To the dismay of many embarrassed mothers, toddlers often back up this way of thinking by grabbing, pulling, crying and, the inevitable temper tantrum. Toddlers often don’t learn the concept of sharing until they are 3 or 4 years old.
While most toddlers do eventually learn to share and play nicely, they have to work through a few issues first. Toddlers tend to be possessive because they don’t understand that when giving an item to someone, they will actually get it back. They also want to establish their identity, test boundaries and stand up for their rights.
While it is a time-consuming and sometimes grueling process, parents can teach their children to share. First, don’t jump into a fight right away, unless it is getting violent. Sometimes children solve problems best if left alone to do so. If you need to, respond to fighting in a calm and compassionate matter, and try giving the children some options to settle their dispute.
One fact about toddlers is that they are easily distracted, and that is a great tool when dealing with sharing. Turn your child’s attention to another toy or get him or her involved in a different activity. Oftentimes, their fight will be forgotten immediately.
One of the most important things to encourage sharing is to provide your child with positive feedback. When you notice them sharing and playing nicely, acknowledge it. All kids want to feel appreciated and valued.
Learning
Learning is what children were born to do. From the day they enter the world they start learning about feelings, people, language and all that goes on in the world. Children learn more in the first few years of life than they do in their lifetime.
Encouraging learning is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give to their children. The more a parent encourages their children to explore and learn, the more enthusiastic the child will be to do so.
There are many ways to encourage a child to learn. First, expose the toddler to a variety of experiences such as swinging, splashing, coloring and playing in the sand. Next, encourage experimentation. Kids love to see what happens when they pick a flower or bang pots and pans together.
It is also important to read to children early and regularly. Starting at even just a few months old, children will benefit from reading, whether it’s looking at the pictures or learning actual sentence structure.
Finally, set a good example by sharing the desire to learn. After all, no one is ever too old to learn something new.
Growing
During the first year of life, children experience a major growth spurt in both size and development. Typically, babies grow 10 inches in height and triple their birth weight during the first year. In addition to the physical changes, they also may learn to walk and talk.
Doctors track a child’s growth on height and weight charts. This tool ensures that children are growing at a normal and steady pace. While children are of varying heights and weights, the chart is used to make sure the child’s growth follows a particular pattern. It is not used to compare the child against others.
The rate of growth slows after the first year, usually to 2 1/2 to 3 inches and 3 to 5 pounds per year until adolescence. The average two-year-old is 34 inches tall and weighs about 27 pounds. Generally, kids grow in “spurts” rather than at a consistent pace.
Once puberty begins, usually 9 to 13 years of age in girls and 10 to 15 years of age in boys, more rapid growth occurs. In addition to increased height and weight, they will experience sexual development, which causes several physical changes. These include body hair, enlarged breasts and voice changes. Around 15 to 17 years of age, kids are usually completely grown.
There are many things that parents can do to ensure their children grow and develop normally. Children generally need 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night. Proper nutrition and exercise are also important for a growing body.
