Watch me Grow - 18 month to 3 years

18 month to 3 years
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 childcare 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 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 learn about how the world works.

• I am very interested in how the world works.

• I may go around a sofa when chasing a ball, knowing that it will come out the other side.

• If my music box winds down, I may try to find a way to start it again.I may use a stick or another object to reach a toy.

I Learn To Move and Do

• I am learning to do new things with my fingers and hands.

• I can make marks on paper with crayons and markers.

• I can stack and line up blocks.

• I can feed myself with my fingers.

• I can use a spoon and can drink from a cup.

• I am learning to move in new ways.

• I can sit in a chair.

• I can pull myself up and stand by holding onto furniture.

• I learn to walk, first with help and then alone. Sometimes I still like to crawl.

• I begin dressing and undressing myself. I can push my foot into my shoe and my arm into my sleeve.I learn to walk forward, take a few steps backwards and try to climb stairs.

I Learn To Communicate and Relate

• I communicate through my expressions and actions.

• I look you in the eye to get your attention and express feelings.

• I point to let you know what I want.

• I point to pictures of interesting objects, animals and people in books. I hope you will tell me about them.

• I may hit, kick or bite when I get too frustrated or angry. I need you to help me learn how to express these feelings in acceptable ways.

• I communicate using sounds and words.

• I create long babble sentences.

• I use sounds other than crying to get your help.

• I may be able to say 2 to 10 or more words clearly.

• I understand more than you may think much more than the words I can say.

• I listen to you and watch you because I understand more than just words.

• I learn to look at a ball when you say "ball" in my home language.

• I can tell whether you're happy or upset from the tone of your voice and how much tension I feel in your body when you hold me.