One Year

What to expect: Child needs to explore and is into everything.

• Likes to dump things out.
• Child must touch and taste everything that is new.
• Likes to tear paper apart and pull plants over to see what will happen.
• Enjoys throwing food on the floor to see what will happen.
• Wants to eat what others are eating.

Needs:

• lots of hugs
• safe environment
• firm limits
• plenty of sleep
• nutritious food

Discipline: The best discipline is distraction and a firm voice.

• Physical punishment is not understood by the child.
• Remove the child from the problem or take the problem away from the child.

Fifteen Months

What to expect:

• Likes to put things in and take them out again.
• Wants to feed self but can eat only with fingers.
• Takes one nap per day, usually in the afternoon.
• Goes to bed easily.
• May start biting. Teething pain makes gums sensitive and biting makes them feel better.
• Does not understand the word "don't".

Needs: Close watching, gentle corrects, and encouragement.

Discipline:

• To stop the child, physically move him.
• Yelling or hitting won't teach the child "NO".
• Do not expect the child to obey, even though the child understands much of what you say.

Eighteen Months

What to expect: Still into everything.

• Starts climbing.
• Needs pull toys and toys to hug and cuddle.
• Can drink from a cup by himself but spills all the time.
• Can fill a spoon but can not turn the handle to get it in the mouth.
• Refuses to let parents feed him.
• Easily upset.
• Wakes during the night.
• Can remove clothes and shoes and prefers not to be dressed.
• Often disobeys.
• Runs away from parents.
• Starts sit-down temper tantrums.
• Refuses to cooperate either by saying "no" or pulling away.

Needs:

A few rules are necessary but the child forgets all the old ones when given a new rule. Use kindness to correct the child or you will have a very anxious 3 or a very naughty 3.

Discipline:

• To correct him: hold the child's hands, speak clearly, use the same words for each rule.
• Save spanking for physically dangerous situations; one swat is all that is necessary to get the child's attention.
• Praise the child when does things you like.