Their longer attention span allows toddlers to practice new activities over and over. Thinking skills are also improving. With your help and guidance, many 2 1/2-year-olds can name and sort shapes and identify colors. Simple puzzles are fun to do now that eye-hand coordination is improving.

You may have noticed that your toddler goes through periods of being cooperative and agreeable, and then turns cranky for what seems like no reason. Such extremes of behavior are common. Some people compare the moods of toddlers to those of teenagers. Both toddlers and teens are changing quickly. Take these changes as a positive sign of your child's growth and try to help and encourage your child's efforts. Soon, his moods will level off.

• Teach colors as you do the wash, look through books and magazines, or choose clothing. Talk about what you see. "I like that blue shirt you are wearing." "Do you want to wear your blue shirt or your red shirt?" "Look at the big green truck." As your child learns colors, begin to ask questions. "What color is that flower?"
• Teach shapes while playing with toys and using everyday objects. A ball is round, a table is square, a piece of paper is a rectangle. While eating, make fun food shapes by cutting a square slice of cheese into triangles or strips. Many sorting toys and books about shapes are available, too.
• Sorting and matching tasks are important in helping children learn size, shape, and color differences. This skill will be the basis for reading as a child learns to recognize letters and words later on. Start practicing sorting skills now by having your toddler put all the shirts in the wash basket. When your wash is done, sock sorting is great fun. "Can you find the red sock that matches this red sock?" While putting dishes away, help your child sort spoons, knives, and forks.
• Use your imagination to create different learning games. The more your child uses her senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch, the easier it will be to classify, sort and match.

What is self-esteem? It is the thoughts, feelings, and ideas a child has about himself. It is how much he likes, accepts, and respects himself. Does he have confidence that he will do well?

Strong self-esteem comes from loving, caring relationships with other people. Parents, grandparents, friends, and teachers who are supportive and accepting will help your child develop a good sense of self. Constant criticism, neglect, and punishment will cause a child to believe he is no good. Children (and older people too) who believe they are "bad" tend to act that way. Before your child can trust and share with others, he must learn to accept and trust himself.

Some parents confuse a "strong-willed" child with strong self-esteem. They believe they must "break" a strong-willed child, almost like you would break a wild horse. Actually, their efforts to punish him probably only make the situation worse! Strong-willed children usually have low self-esteem. Punishing and nagging only confirm how bad he is, in his mind. Build a child's self-esteem and a friendly, cooperative attitude will follow.

One habit to watch, however, is the "snack food syndrome." Good, well-balanced eating habits need to be established early. You will have less control over your child's eating once she reaches school-age. Children may be influenced by the heavy advertising of snack foods on TV. Teach (and model) the good health habits of nutritious eating and regular exercise now so that your toddler can get her best start toward a healthy life.

If you feel your child still needs the security of the same schedule, get away by yourself. At-home parents might enjoy an afternoon off -- go shopping, to a movie, join an interest group, or exercise. If you work outside the home, your routine is probably just as rigid. A day off might be great. Or try a new weekend activity. Trust your child to a babysitter or relative for a night or weekend. As your child gets older, she will enjoy new activities, too. Take a walk in the rain, or go someplace you have never been. Plan a trip to the zoo or the library. Brief schedule changes within your daily routine make everyone feel more alive and refreshed.

Next Issue: Books, music, television, and more!
Prepared by Don Bower, Extension Human Development Specialist, and reviewed by Mary Anne Pace-Nichols, Karen Shetterley, Katrina Bowers, Holly Alley, Judy Hibbs, Esther Maddux, and Cindy Darden.

The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. The Cooperative Extension Service offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. For large print, taped or braille editions of this publication, contact the author.