PROMOTING TODDLER DEVELOPMENT IN DAILY ACTIVITIES

A. Dressing
By the end of the toddler period, most children can put on their own socks and underpants
Some may pull on slacks, pullover shirts or simple dresses
Encourage parents to give up perfection for the benefit of the childs developing sense of
autonomy
As soon as children are walking, they need shoe soles that are firm enough to provide
protection. Toddlers do not need extremely firm or ankle-high shoes because a toddlers arches
are still developing.
Sneakers are an ideal toddler shoe because the soles are hard enough for rough surfaces and
arch support is limited
B. Sleep

The amount of sleep children need gradually decreases as they grow older
They may begin the toddler period napping 2x a day & sleeping 12 hrs each night, and end it
with 1 nap a day and only 8 hours of sleep at night
If a child has difficulty falling asleep at night, it may be time to omit/ shorten an afternoon nap
If a child is so short-tempered at dinnertime that eating is impossible, child needs 2 naps a day
Older siblings should not point out to a toddler all the exciting things a toddler missed while
napping
Toddlers need to be independent, they also need a feeling of security
When first moved to a bed without side rails, many children are found sleeping on the floor of the
room in the morning. Dressing the child in warm pajamas or putting a blanket on the floor might
help the parents to accept this

C. Bathing
Bathing before evening meal, has a quieting effect & prepares the child for eating
Bathing at bedtime, has a relaxing effect & helps a child sleep
Parents can provide toys such as a rubber duck or plastic fish
Remind parents that it is not safe to leave a toddler in a bathtub since they might slip and get
their head under water & turn on the hot-water faucet and scald
Parents shouldnt add bubble bath because its use is associated with vulvovaginitis and possibly
UTI, especially in girls
D. Dental Care
Toddlers often need between-meal snacks
To help prevent dental caries from frequent snacking, encourage parents to offer fruit, protein
foods rather than high-carbohydrate items
Calcium- for the development of strong teeth
Children should continue to drink fluoridated water or fluoride supplements so all new teeth form
with cavity-resistant enamel
Remind parents not to put a child to bed with a bottle of milk or juice to prevent dental caries
Toward the end of the toddler period, they begin to do the tooth brushing themselves under
supervision (almost all children need some supervision until about 8 years)
Children should be reminded to brush thoroughly once a day probably at a bedtime.
After brushing, parents can use dental floss to clean between their childs teeth to remove
plaque
Urge parents to schedule a first visit to a dentist at about 12 months of age
Avoid the use of frightening words such as drill or shot
PARENTAL CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TODDLER PERIOD
A. Toilet Training
One of the biggest tasks a toddler tries to achieve
Individualized task for each child
Before toilet training, they must reach 3 important developmental levels
o Control of rectal & urethral sphincters achieved by the time they walk well, mature at end
of 1st year when tracts of spinal cord are myelinated to the anal level
o Cognitive understanding of what it means to hold urine and stools
o Desire to delay immediate gratification for a more socially accepted action
Physiologic development is cephalocaudal
Children are ready for toilet training when they begin to be uncomfortable in wet diapers, they
demonstrate this by pulling or tugging at soiled diapers or they may bring a parent a clean diaper
Toddlers live by a pleasure principle: They want what they want when they want it
Some toddler play with feces, this can be minimized by providing toddlers with play substances
of similar texture.
Teach parents to accept this behavior for what it is: enjoyment of the body and of the self, and
the discovery of a new substance

B. Ritualistic behavior
Toddlers use only their spoon at mealtime or their blanket at bedtime
They will not go outside unless a mother or father locates their favorite cap
C. Negativism
No
Not only a normal phenomenon of toddlerhood but a positive stage in development
Toddlers have learned that they are separate individuals with separate needs
Come to table, its dinnertime- Are you ready for dinner?
Its time for you bath- Will you come take a bath now?
D. Discipline
Discipline & Punishment are interchangeable terms
Discipline- setting rules or road signs so children know what is expected of them
Punishment- consequence that results from a breakdown in discipline or the childs disregard of
the rules that were learned
Two general rules to follow:
o Parents need to be consistent
o Rules are learned best if correct behavior is praised rather than wrong behavior
punished
Time-out- actions have consequences
A guide as to how long children should remain in their time-out chair is 1 min per year of age
E. Separation Anxiety
Fear of being separated from parents begins at about 6 months of age and persists throughout
the preschool period
It helps if parents say good-bye firmly; repeat the explanation that they will be there when the
child wakes in the morning and then leave.
Prolonged good-byes only lead to more crying
Sneaking out prevents crying & may ease the parents guilt but can strengthen the childs fear of
abandonment
F. Temper Tantrums
Natural consequence of toddlers development
Occur most when children are tired, just before naptime or bedtime or during a long shopping
trip or visit
May also occur if parents are saying no too frequently
May also be a response to difficulty making choices or decisions or pressure from activities
Some children hold their breath as part of a temper tantrum until they become cyanotic
Child develops distended chest, air filled cheeks
Best approach is for parents to simply tell a child that they disapprove of the tantrum & then
ignore
CONCERNS OF THE FAMILY WITH A TODDLER WHO HAS UNIQUE NEEDS

A. Autism Spectrum Order

Classical ASD is a complex range of neurodevelopment disorders characterized by
communication difficulties, poor social interaction, and frequent repetitive & stereotyped
movements
Most frequently in boys than in girls
Milder forms are termed Asperger Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder
or pervasive developmental disorder
Children need to be screened for autism symptoms by 12 mos of age and again at 18 and 24
months of age by observation and parent report
NUTRITION AND PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED OR CHRONICALLY ILL TODDLER

Parents should try to provide other, comparable experiences in independence, such as letting them
choose what toy to take to bed or what clothing to wear.