18 Months to 3 Years

18 Months to 3 Years: Toddlers and Two-Year-Olds

I Learn Who I Am

Sometimes, I feel powerful. But independence can be scary. I count on you to set clear and consistent limits that keep me safe.
When I test limits, I am learning who I am and how I should behave. I am not trying to “get you” even though it may feel that way at times.

I feel good about myself and where I come from when my culture is reflected in my child care setting. I feel I belong when you speak to me in my home language.
I feel proud when I see pictures of my family and other people like me hanging on the wall.
I feel safe when I see adults who care about me working together.

I sense how you feel about me. Your feelings help shape how I feel about me. When you respect me, I respect myself.
I know when you think I am good or bad, pretty or ugly and smart or dumb.
I tune in carefully to your tone and words when you talk about me. Please don’t talk about me as if I can’t understand.

Sometimes I want to be big. Sometimes I want to be a baby again. And sometimes I want to be both at the same time. This is one of the reasons why my behavior is sometimes hard for you to understand. I don’t understand it myself. Sometimes I will walk. Other times I want a ride in the stroller.
Sometimes I insist on doing things my way. Other times I want you to do things for me.
Sometimes I push you away. Other times I want you to hold me close. It’s O.K. - I still love you.

I am learning more self-control. I understand more often what you expect of me.
Sometimes I can stop myself from doing things I shouldn’t. Sometimes I can’t.
I learn to control my behavior best when you give me only a few simple, clear rules to follow and are there to help me in case I forget them.

I Learn About My Feelings

My feelings can be very strong. I feel proud of things I make and do.
I can get very frustrated and angry. I may hit, push or bite to express myself.
I may be afraid of the dark, monsters and people in masks or costumes.

I am learning to control my feelings. I am learning to use words to express my feelings.
I sometimes practice how to express my feelings when I play.
You show me how to treat others by the way you treat others.

I know you have feelings too. I may rub your back to comfort you or pat your cheek. I learn how to care for others by the way you care for me.
I sense when you are happy and truly there for me. It makes me feel good.
I can tell when you are very sad, scared or upset. Sometimes it makes me feel sad, scared and upset too!

I Learn About People, Objects and How Things Work

I am more aware of other children. I am aware when other children are my age and sex.
I am aware of skin color and may begin to be aware of physical differences.
I can tell who is missing from the group when I see who is present.

I like to play together with other children. I may pretend we are going to work or cooking dinner.
I explore our environment with them, going over couches or under tables.
I build block towers with them.

I am beginning to be aware of other children’s rights. I learn I don’t always get my way.
Sometimes I can control myself when things don’t go my way. Sometimes I can’t.
I am learning to take turns.
Sometimes I share. Sometimes it’s just too hard.

I am becoming aware of how you respond to my actions. I know when you are pleased about what I do.
I know when you are upset with me.

I learn about how the world works. I may be able to put toys in groups, such as putting all of the toys with wheels together.
I can find a familiar toy in a bag, even when I can’t see it.

I Learn to Move and Do

I can do many new things with my fingers and hands. I turn the pages of a book.
I scribble with a crayon or marker and may be able to draw shapes, like circles.
I pound and squeeze clay. Sometimes I make shapes with a cookie cutter.
I can thread beads with large holes.
I am learning to use scissors.

I move in new ways. I kick and throw a ball.
I stand on one foot.
I am learning to stand and walk on tiptoes.
I may be able to walk upstairs putting one foot on each step.

I can handle many everyday routines by myself. I am learning to eat with a spoon and fork though sometimes I use my fingers.
I can dress myself in simple clothes.
I can pour milk on my cereal.

I Learn to Communicate and Relate

I have many things to tell you. I may know up to 200 words in my home language and sometimes in a second language. I can put them together in sentences.
I can tell you about things that happened yesterday and about things that will happen tomorrow.
I may get frustrated when I have trouble expressing myself. Then I need you to listen patiently. It may help me if you put into words what you think I am trying to say.

I like you to read and tell me stories. I especially enjoy stories that are about something I know.
Sometimes I may listen for a long time. Other times I may listen for just a little while. I like it when you know the difference.
I like to join in when you tell a story.
Sometimes I like to “read” or tell you a story too.

I play with words. I like songs, fingerplays and games with nonsense words.
My friends and I talk together as we act out scenes about serving dinner, driving a car or building a house.
Sometimes I use an object as if it were something else. For example, I might use a block for a phone.

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I Learn Who I Am
Sometimes, I feel powerful. But independence can be scary.	I count on you to set clear and consistent limits that keep me safe. When I test limits, I am learning who I am and how I should behave. I am not trying to “get you” even though it may feel that way at times.
I feel good about myself and where I come from when my culture is reflected in my child care setting.	I feel I belong when you speak to me in my home language. I feel proud when I see pictures of my family and other people like me hanging on the wall. I feel safe when I see adults who care about me working together.
I sense how you feel about me. Your feelings help shape how I feel about me.	When you respect me, I respect myself. I know when you think I am good or bad, pretty or ugly and smart or dumb. I tune in carefully to your tone and words when you talk about me. Please don’t talk about me as if I can’t understand.
Sometimes I want to be big. Sometimes I want to be a baby again. And sometimes I want to be both at the same time. This is one of the reasons why my behavior is sometimes hard for you to understand. I don’t understand it myself.	Sometimes I will walk. Other times I want a ride in the stroller. Sometimes I insist on doing things my way. Other times I want you to do things for me. Sometimes I push you away. Other times I want you to hold me close. It’s O.K. - I still love you.
I am learning more self-control.	I understand more often what you expect of me. Sometimes I can stop myself from doing things I shouldn’t. Sometimes I can’t. I learn to control my behavior best when you give me only a few simple, clear rules to follow and are there to help me in case I forget them.
I Learn About My Feelings
My feelings can be very strong.	I feel proud of things I make and do. I can get very frustrated and angry. I may hit, push or bite to express myself. I may be afraid of the dark, monsters and people in masks or costumes.
I am learning to control my feelings.	I am learning to use words to express my feelings. I sometimes practice how to express my feelings when I play. You show me how to treat others by the way you treat others.
I know you have feelings too.	I may rub your back to comfort you or pat your cheek. I learn how to care for others by the way you care for me. I sense when you are happy and truly there for me. It makes me feel good. I can tell when you are very sad, scared or upset. Sometimes it makes me feel sad, scared and upset too!
I Learn About People, Objects and How Things Work
I am more aware of other children.	I am aware when other children are my age and sex. I am aware of skin color and may begin to be aware of physical differences. I can tell who is missing from the group when I see who is present.
I like to play together with other children.	I may pretend we are going to work or cooking dinner. I explore our environment with them, going over couches or under tables. I build block towers with them.
I am beginning to be aware of other children’s rights.	I learn I don’t always get my way. Sometimes I can control myself when things don’t go my way. Sometimes I can’t. I am learning to take turns. Sometimes I share. Sometimes it’s just too hard.
I am becoming aware of how you respond to my actions.	I know when you are pleased about what I do. I know when you are upset with me.
I learn about how the world works.	I may be able to put toys in groups, such as putting all of the toys with wheels together. I can find a familiar toy in a bag, even when I can’t see it.
I Learn to Move and Do
I can do many new things with my fingers and hands.	I turn the pages of a book. I scribble with a crayon or marker and may be able to draw shapes, like circles. I pound and squeeze clay. Sometimes I make shapes with a cookie cutter. I can thread beads with large holes. I am learning to use scissors.
I move in new ways.	I kick and throw a ball. I stand on one foot. I am learning to stand and walk on tiptoes. I may be able to walk upstairs putting one foot on each step.
I can handle many everyday routines by myself.	I am learning to eat with a spoon and fork though sometimes I use my fingers. I can dress myself in simple clothes. I can pour milk on my cereal.
I Learn to Communicate and Relate
I have many things to tell you.	I may know up to 200 words in my home language and sometimes in a second language. I can put them together in sentences. I can tell you about things that happened yesterday and about things that will happen tomorrow. I may get frustrated when I have trouble expressing myself. Then I need you to listen patiently. It may help me if you put into words what you think I am trying to say.
I like you to read and tell me stories.	I especially enjoy stories that are about something I know. Sometimes I may listen for a long time. Other times I may listen for just a little while. I like it when you know the difference. I like to join in when you tell a story. Sometimes I like to “read” or tell you a story too.
I play with words.	I like songs, fingerplays and games with nonsense words. My friends and I talk together as we act out scenes about serving dinner, driving a car or building a house. Sometimes I use an object as if it were something else. For example, I might use a block for a phone.