This Week's Sesame Street...

Here are the updates on Harry's life this week:

"Me do it!" is a frequent refrain among 22-month-olds. As your toddler becomes more self-aware, he'll likely want to do more things for himself. Setting limits is important, of course, but you can let your toddler take the lead sometimes, like choosing which clothes to wear (even if it means he leaves the house in mismatched colors), Harry often leaves the house in his pajama top...but under a regular shirt. It can be cold in the morning! His pajama top is warm and cozy. I see no problem here. wetting the toothbrush, Whenever we are in the bathroom Harry comes in and says "Teeeth?" and gets his toothbrush to brush his teeth. He does a fairly good job! or turning the bathroom light on or off. By encouraging his independence now, your toddler will grow into a confident preschooler down the road.

New this month: Issuing orders
Now that your toddler can communicate using both words and gestures, you can expect him to become quite bossy. Mostly he's experimenting with how his ability to communicate affects the people around him. For instance, he might yell "Stop!" when you start singing his favorite song. I am starting to take offense over this one! It's not that he really wants you to stop singing. He's more interested in seeing how you respond to his order. Oh. Intra-sting. If he demands "Help me!" when he's playing with a toy, you're witnessing a huge developmental leap. Rather than throwing a toy he can't operate, he can now ask you to help him figure it out."He(l)p." "Look!" is another frequent command. Usually this request signifies a need for your approval. "Dadee! Dadee! DADEE!!!" Harry yelled last night, as I tossed buckets of water at his head. No, he was not in distress. He thought it was the greatest and he wanted to show Kevin. Hmmmm...maybe he is destined to be a goalie! He may want you to compliment one of his scribbles, block towers, or simply acknowledge that he put on his socks. Praising his specific achievements will give him the confidence to keep trying new things on his own.

What you can do
Use your toddler's bossy behavior as a springboard to teaching "please" and "thank-you." For example, when he says "Help," teach him to say "Help, please!" We're on it! You can also use his demands to get a conversation going. When he says "Stop," ask him to explain why he wants you to stop doing whatever you're doing. Although your toddler probably doesn't have the vocabulary to give you a real explanation, you may be surprised at how well he expresses himself.

Other developments: Expressing love and cooperating ... maybe
Your toddler may delight you and a few other special people in his life by showering you with affection. He will freely hug and kiss you, and (usually) come to you when called. He doesn't totally understand what it means to cooperate, but he recognizes that it makes you happy when he does. He may even be willing to help with some chores, such as putting away books and toys when you suggest it. Harry is a good egg.

Other children go through a standoffish phase around this age. If yours isn't particularly loving or cooperative, be patient. Keep in mind that this can be a confusing time for toddlers. They have many feelings but they can't always express them with words.

If your toddler has begun to reject your hugs and kisses or has become uncooperative, give some thought to what could be causing him to act this way. Is there a new baby at home? Have you been working late or traveling? Your toddler may be overwhelmed by his feelings but unable to tell you. Try asking him questions about how he's feeling ("Are you angry with Mommy about something? Are you upset with me because I worked late? Would you like to spend more time with me?"), even if his answers hurt you. Understand that he's trying to make sense of his emotions.

For boys: Can your toddler jump?
We have been actively working on this, and Harry can now jump! He still needs some practice, but he is doing a great job! His favorite part seems to be clapping afterwards. We can even get him to raise his arms in the air, as though he has really stuck his landing.
I remember back when we taught Bailey to jump. We used to make her jump before she went outside or came inside. It was great training for when she wanted to grab a loaf of bread off of the table! Maybe Harry will use his powers for good!

Yes, he can get both feet off the ground at once.
55%

Almost -- he tries, but both feet don?t quite make it off the ground at once.
34%

Not yet.
10%

So that's that!