Before her second birthday, your toddler will excel at hiding games, remembering where hidden objects are long after they leave her sight. If you pocket her ball or cracker while she’s playing, you may forget all about it, but she won’t!
As she masters hide-and-seek, she’ll also become more understanding about separations from you. Just as she knows that a hidden object is somewhere, even when she can’t see it, she’ll now recognize that you always come back, even when you’re away from her a whole day. If you actually show her where you go when you leave her—to work or to the grocery store, for example—she’ll form a mental image of you there. This may make the separation even easier for her.
At this age, your toddler is very much the director; she lets you know what role she wants you to play in her activities. Sometimes she’ll bring you a toy so you can help her make it work; other times she’ll pull it away from you to try it by herself. Often, when she knows she’s done something special, she’ll pause and wait for your applause. By responding to these cues, you’ll provide the support and encouragement she needs to keep learning.
You also must supply the judgment that she still lacks. Yes, she now understands how certain things behave, but—because she can’t see how one thing affects another—she doesn’t yet grasp the full notion of consequences. So even though she may understand that her toy wagon will roll downhill, she can’t predict what will happen when it lands in the middle of the busy street below. Although she knows that a door swings open and shut, she doesn’t know that she has to keep her hand from getting caught in it. And even if she’s found out the hard way once, don’t assume she’s learned her lesson. Chances are she doesn’t associate her pain with the chain of events that led up to it, and she almost certainly won’t remember this sequence the next time. Until she develops her own common sense, she’ll need your vigilance to keep her safe.
Last Updated 8/1/2009
Source Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 (Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics)
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
