Raising Resilience in Toddlers
From curiosity and excitement to frustration and meltdowns—toddlerhood can be a rollercoaster of feelings for both you and your child. At this age, your child is learning, growing and experiencing the world around them in ways they haven’t before. Embracing these ups and downs with your toddler, and starting to teach them how to cope with challenges, manage stress and make healthy choices along the way, can help build their resilience.
In this article:
Navigating typical toddler behavior
As toddlers learn and grow, they’re likely to experience big emotions, test limits and have many meltdowns. As frustrating as this may be for you (and them), these behaviors are normal and expected at this age. When parenting gets challenging, remember that your toddler is not trying to give you a hard time; they are having a hard time.
Helping your toddler express their feelings
When kids don’t have the words to express how they feel, they show us with their behavior. Not being able to communicate feelings with words can be frustrating, leading to meltdowns and other challenging behavior. You can help your child learn how to express what they feel and need.
Building independence in your toddler
A lot of times, it's easier (and faster, and less messy) to just do things yourself. But kids learn by doing. Trying things on their own and working through problems helps them build confidence, learn to trust themselves and ultimately develop independence. You can step back and provide your with child safe opportunities to give things a try (and make mistakes along the way).
Printable Resilience Resources
If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) at 1-800-715-4225. You can also chat or text for support by downloading the MyGCAL app in the app store or on Google Play. For those outside of Georgia, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Any thoughts of suicide should be taken seriously.