Talk about what you see, what you smell and what you feel. Discuss the colors of all the fruit in the shop and the shapes of the toys in the bath. Verbalize your actions while dressing your Little One; ‘Mom is pulling your nightgown over your head, put your arms through, first one, then the other’. “Hurry up and get your blue rain boots and choose socks to wear. One foot first, let’s count your toes first… 1,2,3,4,5 toes, just pull the sock up high, now the other foot..1,2,3,4,5′. Remember, communicating is not a one-way conversation. Point to detail in the pictures while reading stories e.g. the brown dog standing next to the apple tree or the yellow sun up in the sky that looks just like a tennis ball. Ask questions and encourage an answer. Get excited about feedback together and praise your little one when he notices something new. Sing songs like Ducklings ducklings walk in a line while you walk to the bathroom and say a rhyme while you eat breakfast. Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall. How do you cook the porridge? Without sugar, without milk, a big plate for each. Just come up with silly moves that make the rhyme more fun, because remember; the little things in life matter. Guessing games are fun; I think of an animal on the farm, he is pink, rolls in the mud and makes oink-oink noises. What animal am I thinking of?

Start potty training as soon as possible. Let your child help you choose underwear in the store and then start by encouraging them every half hour to try and use the toilet. Praise, clap, spin around and let your child know how proud you are when he or she gets it right. When accidents happen, reassure him or her that we just keep trying. Do not condemn accidents, but use a reward card with a sticker for each successful “wee and splash”.

As much as you want your Little One to stay small, they grow up fast. One of the greatest gifts you will ever give him is independence and self-confidence. Teach him the responsibility of doing daily chores himself. Here are some examples of chores that can be done in the house. Pick up your toys, sort the underwear in the laundry basket, pack the socks in your closet, take your lunch box out of your bag, set the table and water the plants. However, make sure that he carries out the tasks until they are done. Encourage him to do things himself, we don’t say we can’t, we say we try. Encourage more challenging chores with “When Mommy sees that you are trying your best, I will lend a hand anytime to help you finish the chores”. Working together is key.

Routine is so important to our young friends. Constant rules with enforcement of consequences make children feel safe. They know what the boundaries are and they feel safe between the lines. Make it a habit to speak once. When assignments are repeated too much, selective hearing starts to play a big role. A discipline card helps to promote positive behaviour. Focus on positive behavior and reward your child accordingly.