By now our child will begin to set goals for himself. He'll have particular ideas about what he wants to get done — like riding his tricycle down the path or fitting all the pieces of a puzzle together. He'll also care about the results — you'll see he's pleased when he's successful and frustrated when he's not. It's all part of his burgeoning independence.

Milestone

Mastered Skills (most kids can do)

• Kicks ball forward
• Follows two-step requests (e.g., "Get your doll and bring it here")




Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)


• Does simple puzzles
• Draws a straight line
• Names several body parts



Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)

• Puts on loose-fitting clothes
• Might be ready for a big bed
• Understands opposites (e.g., tall vs. short)

New fears

Your toddler's blossoming imagination can lead to a host of new fears now. Insects and water are two common ones. Don't try to talk your child out of his fears with statements like, "There's nothing to be afraid of; bugs can't hurt you." For starters, it's not true — some bugs bite and others are dangerous — and it dismisses your child's feelings. The best approach now is to acknowledge your child's fears and stay calm yourself. Say things like, "I know you don't like bugs. I'll move that one away from you." If you're afraid of bugs, too, resist the urge to screech and run away. Your toddler is watching your behavior carefully, and you could inadvertently set the stage for a lifelong fear. If water is the problem, you can encourage your toddler to dip his feet in at the edge of the ocean or pool, but don't force him. You want to keep his interactions with water pleasant.




biting

Has your toddler started biting? Toddlers bite for a variety of reasons, and understanding why may help you put a stop to it. Some children bite because they're curious and wonder, "What will happen if I bite my friend?" Others bite when they are frustrated, are angry, want attention, feel threatened, or simply want to imitate something they saw a playmate do. Toddlers also tend to bite when they're teething, since the pressure of biting can relieve some of the pain of emerging teeth. If your child has a history of biting, you're probably aware of the situations that provoke it. If he bites out of anger or frustration, your job is to intervene before he gets to that point. Offer solutions to the problem. Saying things like "Here, let me find you a toy to play with" reinforces the rule that hurting other people is not okay.