Use play and stories to positively support toddlers’ understanding of their physical selves and social identities.
Share toddlers’ pleasure when they do something for themselves and celebrate by sharing with others such as parents, other children or practitioners.
Recognise a child’s growing sense of agency and respect their attempts to gain independence by giving time for doing things for themselves in routines.
Making choices is important for all children. Consider, with parents/carers and other professionals, ways in which you provide for children with disabilities to make choices.
Provide toddlers with opportunities to practise making choices and decisions such as when serving themselves from dishes on the lunch table.
Support toddlers’ autonomy by involving them in the daily organisation of the home or group by setting the table, for example.
Be close by and available to provide encouragement and support when a toddler needs it but show trust in their capabilities.
Be aware of and alert to possible dangers, while recognising the importance of encouraging young children’s sense of exploration and risk-taking.
Offer extra support to children in new situations where they may not understand the expectations or have confidence in their abilities.
Recognise and value toddlers unique interests and abilities by following and building on what they show you about their play interests and preferences.
Be sensitive to differences in attitudes and expectations amongst families and maintain a two-way communication about their values and approach.
Recognise each child’s social and cultural context by talking about the places children go to, celebrations they enjoy and the people they love.
Notice your interactions with children of different genders, ethnicities or abilities; are you conveying any unconscious bias? Are you actively challenging stereotypes and assumptions?
