• pedaling a tricycle instead of pushing with their feet
• building block towers that stay up
• forming shapes with play dough
• drawing circles with a crayon or pencil

Your toddler is very proud of these skills. You will probably be called to "Watch me" or "Look at this." Be sure to encourage her efforts by giving the attention she craves. Comments such as "What a tall tower you have built" or "You can ride so fast on your tricycle" are sure to please. Your child is also becoming interested in some grown-up activities. Reading, listening to music, and watching television, especially with you, are probably favorites.

Picture books with lots of action are good for toddlers. Choose books with simple stories, rhymes, and bright pictures. As you read, use your imagination to "huff and puff" like a big, bad wolf. Ask questions about the story and let your child participate. Choose stories that are informative or fun fantasies. Scary stories may worry a toddler.

Toddlers also enjoy stories you make up, especially if your child is the main character. Use everyday situations and his special interests to tell stories. "Once there was a little boy named Freddie who had a friend named Teddy. Freddie and Teddy went everywhere together and this is what they saw. . ." Each member of the family can add new parts to create crazy make-believe tales! Using puppets can dramatize stories even more.

Many children's tapes and CDs are available with tunes your child will learn very quickly. Wind-up music boxes and musical toys that shake, drum or jingle let your child make her own music. Many families have favorite songs that they sing together often.

But television should not be used as a babysitter. Studies have shown that many toddlers spend a third of their waking hours watching TV! A child who spends many hours in front of the television is not using large muscles and his endless energy. TV also keeps a child from interacting with other children and from spending time in active play outdoors. Research also indicates that children who are heavy TV viewers are more likely to be overweight than children who watch less TV.

Now is the time to teach good television habits. If you spend a great deal of time watching television yourself, your child will follow your example. When a program is on that your child enjoys, watch the program together. You can share experiences and also monitor the content of programs. Avoid violent themes or programs that may frighten your child.

Programs should reinforce the values that you want your child to learn. Consider the subtle messages about violence, sexuality, and stereotypes on the programs your child watches. You maintain control over the television set. Avoid leaving the television on all day. Be sure to plan a variety of other activities so that television does not become the focal point of the day. Your child needs many active, creative learning activities, not just the passive viewing that television requires.

If your child seems uncomfortable sitting on the toilet, show her how to sit backwards (facing the tank). This allows a child to hold on to the seat and offers more security for many. It is also easier to get on and off the "big" toilet.

A child who is still in diapers but beginning to stay dry might be ready for training pants. Training pants are like underpants with thick layers at the crotch. When your child shows signs of trying to hold urine regularly, try training pants during the day. This often acts as a signal to the child not to wet. Continue using diapers or disposable training pants at night until your toddler stays dry.

As your toddler gets taller and heavier, you may want to switch from a car safety seat to a booster seat. With many seats, this is safe when your toddler weighs more than 45 pounds. Booster seats allow more freedom to move and are high enough to let a child see out the window. Booster seats are generally as safe as other car safety seats, if you use them properly. Safety seats that are not used according to the manufacturer's instructions could be more dangerous than no seats at all! And remember, Georgia law requires all children to be buckled up when traveling. While riding in the car, also keep in mind:

• always lock doors.
• make certain windows near the child are rolled up.
• never leave children alone in the car, even for a few minutes.
• children are almost always safer in the rear seat.

Young toddlers may be happy riding in strollers. Older toddlers prefer walking, however. Your options then are to hold hands or to use a tether strap from your wrist to the child. (Some folks compare such a tether to a "dog leash," but it sure beats losing a child!) Teach your toddler to say her whole name and her parents' names when asked by an adult, if she becomes separated from you.

Next Issue: Eating, sickness, emotions, 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.