Category: Ages and Stages
Age range: ages 1-3

Toddlers are active explorers of their world. This is an age of perpetual motion and inquiry. Toddlers are discovering their own independence while still needing the security and assistance of others. This 3 part series helps parents explore typical toddler development and some of the challenges and joys that are a common part of parenting a toddler. Fostering self-esteem and playing with your toddler are also topics covered. Participants leave with an understanding of the typical developmental milestones of toddlerhood, realistic expectations for toddler behavior and strategies to encourage healthy growth and development.

Your Emerging Explorer consists of 3 sessions:

1. What is a Toddler? Child Development
2. Common Concerns: Limit Setting with Toddlers
3. Playing with Toddlers: Fostering Self-Esteem

Note: This 3 part series can also be scheduled as a 2 session series. Each session can also be scheduled as an individual workshop.        

1. What is a Toddler? Child Development

Toddlerhood is a time of amazing growth and development. Development includes cognitive advances, social awareness and skills, physical development and emotional changes. Toddlers are constantly seeking new independence and self-assertion while still needing the safety and security their parents provide. This session helps parents understand the development that takes place in toddlerhood. It helps parents make sense of toddler behavior, develop appropriate expectations for toddlers, and engage their children in great learning and play experiences.

2. Common Concerns: Limit Setting with Toddlers

Toddlers are at a point in their lives when they need to declare their independence. They are driven to do things by themselves and want to be in control. They also need to test limits over and over again. It is difficult for parents to keep their cool with the constant demands of a toddler that can leave adults feeling bewildered and enraged. This session helps parents understand their toddler’s behaviors and how toddlers understand limit setting. Participants leave with several strategies to help minimize conflicts and make things easier for themselves and their children. Parents learn to allow toddlers some autonomy and room for healthy exploration while remaining in control of the situation and themselves.

3. Playing with Toddlers: Fostering Self-Esteem

“The world is your playground” is a term that certainly applies to toddlers. Toddlers need ample room to explore and assert their budding autonomy. This session helps parents understand the importance of play in the lives of toddlers. Playing together offers endless opportunities to foster a toddler’s sense of himself/herself as a competent explorer in the world. Learning skills and feeling confident are the hallmarks of positive self-esteem. Parents also learn useful strategies for talking about and responding to the play of their children in ways that further self-esteem and learning.