Typically this is the age when you see a huge surge in your child's language development. Her vocabulary increases dramatically; now she is far easier to understand. She shows her intellectual advance by becoming interested in shape sorters and puzzles. Her greater dexterity also allows her to remove some items of clothing especially shoes and socks and tape-held disposable diaper. Sometime during this part of the second year many toddlers become a bit possessive - even overpossessiveness. Ironically this is an advancement in learning! On a negative note, the dreaded part of this stage is temper tantrums which happens mostly when her defenses are at the weakest. Nearly all children have them despite parents' efforts to keep things on an even keel.

• perform all previous 'should be able to's..'

• 'feed' a doll
• use 6 words
• walk up steps

Things your toddler may possibly do AT THIS STAGE

• build a tower of 4 cubes
• identify two pictures by pointing

• name 6 body parts
• wash and dry hands

Toddlers are usually stereotyped; the word toddler is associated with clichéd associations such as rebellious, tantrums, stubborn, perpetual motion, grabby, opinionated. There are however exceptions that don't fit the mould. While most are stormy and stubborn at times, some are always placid and cooperative. While many are grabby others are giving; while some are aggressive, others are gentle; and while most toddlers are restless, on the go beings, others are content to sit and watch the world go by. Most importantly toddlers are individuals; your toddlers' innate temperament dictates to you who she is and isn't. Nagging about her inactivity, faulting her placid personality or comparing her to more active children won't change her but could damage her self-esteem. Instead compliment her on her positive traits: drawing, her finishing her puzzle, her attempts at reading books. Nevertheless it is important that your toddler gets an adequate amount of physical activity. Children tend to become less active as they reach school age, spending most of their free time in front of the TV instead of playing outside. Encouraging your toddler to be active now is a good place to start being active. Instead of running, climbing and roughhousing she may prefer dancing, walking or jumping rope. If she resists all activity check with your doctor to be sure it isn't due to health. Also be sure the problem isn't due to lack of stimulation or opportunity. If she is continuously mesmerized by TV or placed in a buggy all day or forbidden to touch things around the house all the time, then she may be inactive because she has no other choice. If she is well and healthy, has plenty of opportunities to behave like a toddler, don't be alarmed or put off by her calm nature. Continue to applaud her and encourage her to be active in a non-judgmental way.

Your child is not considered hyperactive if he is full of energy and is sometimes disobedient, defiant or naughty. He is not to be considered hyperactive if he gets fidgety while you are engaged, refuses to sit down for long or is restless on a long journey. Most children get aggressive from time to time; get cranky out of boredom; is noisy and uninhibited. Finally a child who is having behavior problems due to some stress should not be labeled hyperactive. There are some distinctive differences between what is normal and hyperactive behavior. A hyperactive child is more likely to have had the following tendencies as a baby: screaming and crying constantly, needed very little sleep or had irregular sleep patterns, had colic, was irritable, disliked being cuddled, jumped at every sound, had excessive dribbling and was very thirsty, head banged, difficult to settle, difficult to feed. Much of the following behavior is typical for two year olds, but an older toddler who has had many of the symptoms below for at least six months may be hyperactive.

Symptoms:

• Is clumsy or accident prone
• Constantly fidgets and dislikes sitting still or for even short periods.
• Is frequently aggressive
• Flits from one thing to another, lacks concentration and never finishes what he is doing
• Overreacts to minor things and is difficult to pacify
• Has continual sleep problems
• Has difficulty learning to dress himself
• Has poor self-esteem
• Has difficulty taking turns
• Touches and meddles with everything
• Has speech delay or talks continually
• Has a poor appetite and is always thirsty
• Does dangerous things without any sense of danger or sign of fear
• Dislikes change
• Has health problems such as ear or chest infections, asthma, eczema and tummy aches

Causes:

There is no clear cause for hyperactivity but several theories surround it.
1. Genetic. It is thought that hyperactivity may have a hereditary component since hyperactive children have at least one close relative who share the same condition. However no specific gene has been identified. It is more prevalent in boys than girls (about 1 girl to 5 boys).

2. Maternal health. A high proportion of hyperactive children are born to mothers who have a history of allergy such as eczema, asthma or migraine.

3. Pregnancy and birth problems. Birth complications and pregnancy problems such as stress and allergy may contribute to hyperactivity.

4. Essential fatty acid deficiency. Some studies have found hyperactive children lack in EFA. Symptoms pointing to this lack include severe thirst, dry skin and hair, frequent urination and a history of allergies such as eczema and asthma.

5. Nutritional deficiencies. Some hyperactive children may be low in zinc, magnesium and Vitamin B12.

6. Foods. Additives, colorings, preservatives, chocolate, sugar, dairy products, wheat, tomatoes, nitrates, oranges, eggs and other foods have been implicated as possible triggers of hyperactivity.

Statistics tell us children between the ages 2 and 5 watch an average of more than 25 hours of television a week - with some watching for 5 or more hours on a daily basis! TV watching has been linked to all of the following among our children:

The couch potato syndrome:

Children don't just look like they are vegetating, they literally are. They enter a trance-like state with their metabolic rate dropping as much as 16% below what is in a normal resting state.

Inadequate physical, intellectual, social activity:

Excessive viewing prevents young children from developing skills that are vital to long term happiness; chronic TV viewers depend on it for stimulation and satisfaction. They don't run around, play with other children, look at books or listen to stories; they don't exercise their minds and bodies in any other way.

Obesity:

Obesity among children is up 50% in the last couple of decades. The explanation is simple - too many calories. TV addicts consume more calories since they snack more and they burn fewer of them since they exercise less and have a slower metabolic rate during TV watching.

Increase in aggression:

Watching violence on TV fosters aggressive behavior in children; at the very least it dulls sensitivity towards violence and allows young viewers to take it for granted rather than being worried about it.

Increased fear:

young children find it difficult to differentiate between what is real and what is not. They find fantasy as frightening as reality because they tend to take all that they see and hear literally. Even if they don't seem frightened while watching the show, the fear manifests as nightmares later on while they sleep.

Questionable values:

Few children's shows make a very commendable effort to teach positive values such as honesty, sharing, tolerance, kindness; many programs transmit negative values such it is ok to use violence or to lie to reach your means.

Less effective coping skills:

Experts predict that parents who click on the TV to divert young minds from boredom, crankiness are encouraging children to grow up unable to deal with the normal ebbs and flows of life; rather than trying to work out problems or figure ways out of boredom, these kids may gravitate towards easy fixes and even develop self destructive habits.

Lagging intellectual and social development:

TV learning turns children into passive learners who are bored with or unable to concentrate when learning in school as it is not as exciting and fast paced as TV. Excessive TV viewing in the toddler years can prevent a child from developing a love for books, a relationship crucial to continuing intellectual growth.

Less imagination and creativity:

Television paints the whole picture and leaves nothing to the imagination. With rare exceptions, TV shows don't challenge to come up with new ideas and don't encourage creativity.

Weak independent play skills:

Children who watch a lot of TV often can't entertain themselves. Spoilt by the ample stimulation of TV, heavy viewers don't wish to put the effort into free play that requires thought and stimulation. They lack the motivation to entertain themselves through means that require effort and imagination.

Weaker family and social ties:

families that watch TV day in and day out may gradually drift apart. There is often little interaction, little sharing of ideas, feelings and values.
Despite it all, TV does have its positive sides. When used to advantage, it can be a valuable educational tool and allow children to be in the know of TV characters their friends know and not feel left out. Busy parents often resort to TV to occupy their children; it is a convenient means to get their own jobs done and ensuring their children are distracted enough to permit that. To maintain peace in the house, there is no surer way than clicking on the TV. For parents of toddlers who crave for tranquil moments, the TV option is almost irresistible.

Despite its faults, TV does provide a wonderland of experience that is incomparable - sights, sounds and people. It can take children to the far corners of the world or even the universe; expose them to the past and the future, the everyday and the unusual, the arts and the sciences. The commandments below will help your family derive the benefits with the least risk.

Establish sensible limits now:

Before 18 months a toddler can easily do without any TV at all, At 18 months, half an hour is enough. When your toddler passes the second birthday, consider expanding TV viewing to an hour a day. Allowing more TV time than that for toddlers, who should be spending most of their time doing other stuffs, is not a good idea.

Enforce limits:

Setting limits is one thing, keeping them is another. Limits won't work unless you regularly click off the TV set when the allotted show time is over and then redirect your toddler's interest elsewhere. There are times when the rule needs to be bended, as when your child is sick and no physical activity seems to help. Just make it clear that this is an exception.

Time television viewing:

Avoid TV viewing during mealtimes which should be family time, during play dates when children should be playing together and during family gatherings and holiday celebrations.

Watch together:

Joint viewing allows you to correct misinformation, monitor commercials and point out values you share as well as those you don't; don't make solitary viewing a habit. There is a lot of interaction related to what's on the screen; you can also be doing something else while you watch - either with your child (doing a puzzle) or on your own (peeling potatoes, working on your accounts or reading).

Make TV viewing interactive:

Motivate your child to sing and dance and do arts and craft projects along with TV characters. Sing-along or dance-and-movement videos encourage active participation.

Avoid using TV as a substitute:

Avoid using TV to calm, soothe, or cheer your child. Try to find out what is bothering your child and help him deal with the problem instead of turning to the TV.

TV is not to be used as a bribe:

Associating the TV set to good behavior (it must be good because only good kids get to watch TV) or making it more tempting by offering it to stop the child from crying makes TV all the more attractive.

Set a positive example:

Your children are likely to do as you do than do as you say, so it is important to become a model of responsible viewing. Don't keep the TV on for background noise or for round-the clock entertainment. If you don't like the house to be quiet, switch on the radio or play background music both you and your toddler can enjoy.

Be selective:

Carefully choosing what your children watch on television is as important as controlling how much they watch and how. So it is important to preview it yourself to determine its appropriateness. Look for noncommercial programs designed specially for young kids with simple language, appealing characters, singing, music, educational value. Ban programs with violence in them, including cartoons. Also be mindful about the content of the programs you watch when your toddler is around; it is better to watch TV tailored for adults when your kid is tucked away for the night.

Counteract the negatives:

The negative effects of TV viewing can be minimized by turning the family focus away from TV. Substitute with other activities that bring the family together as much as possible (swimming, a trip to the zoo or museum, gardening). Use TV to build observation skills, creativity and intellect. More than food, clothing, shelter and TV, your child needs your attention; attend to their needs, feelings and teach them how to recognize and deal with their emotional needs.

Energy outlets for Toddlers
It is challenging to find outlets for that dynamo that are safe, acceptable and not too tiring for weary parents who are trying to keep up. Try channeling your little bundle into one of these energy-expending activities with supervision where necessary.

Indoors

• Punching a punching bag or pillow
• Drumming on pots
• Pounding or hammering toys
• Pounding clay
• Dancing to lively music
• Kiddie aerobics ('jumping jacks', head-shoulder-knee and toe touches)
• Lively circle games and action songs
• Jumping up and down ("how high can you jump?")
• Broad jumps ("how broad can you jump?")
• Splashing in the tub

Outdoors

• Free play: running, jumping climbing
• Playground play: swings, slide, climbing frame
• Ball kicking and throwing (use large, light- weight balls)
• Pulling a wagon
• On rainy days splashing in puddles (with boots)

Relaxation techniques for Toddlers

Try these soothing techniques to calm your bundle of energy when constructive channeling doesn't work. Help them unwind when they are high-strung with:
• Hugging, cuddling or massage
• Soft music with without lyrics
• Selected low key videos
• A relaxing story
• A warm bath
• Playing simple puzzles
• Doodling, painting with brush or fingers, drawing with crayons or chalk
• Clay play
• Water play
• Watching fish in fishtank
Once your child has calmed down, find the underlying cause for the unruly behavior and see if you can find a way to deal with it and prevent a repeat.