Acknowledging the fact that your toddler is a competent learner, able to think on his own, make judgments, and have opinions will help you provide your toddler with the encouragement and independence needed to build his own sense of autonomy.
Your 13 month old is in his sensory motor phase of development, learning from the world by exploring and taking information in through all of his senses. He processes his world by what he sees, hears, touches, tastes, and smells. These experiences are helping those brain cells to connect!
There are many great ways that you can support your toddler as a competent learner:
- Providing safe spaces and opportunities for your toddler to explore.
- Create spaces that enable your child to access their toys independently.
- Supplying materials that allow for the exploration of temperature, texture, size, and shape.
- Encourage your toddler to clean up minor messes they may have created, such as putting blocks back in the box or basket after play- you could also incorporate a sorting activity.
- Allow your toddler real utensils at mealtime such as spoons to feed themselves, even if it is messy.
- Give your toddler an idea of the schedule. “We will put on shoes, then go outside.”
- Honoring your toddler’s preferences; for example, putting them down if they do not wish to be carried when it is safe to do so.
- Allow your toddler to make choices about which books they would like to look at or have read to them.
- Giving full, undivided attention to your toddler during routine activities such as diaper changing to convey that they are valued and cherished and talk to them through the process.
- Start encouraging your toddler to pull up their own pants after diaper changing.
- Allowing toddlers to start putting on their own shoes.
- Provide choices when possible regarding what clothes to wear, or what snack to have. Limit choices to two so you are still in control.
References:
Government of Saskatchewan, (2010). Play and Exploration for Infants and Toddlers. Retrieved from http://publications.gov.sk.ca/documents/11/82949-Final%20Infant%20Toddler%20Companion%20Booklet.pdf