Your 21-month-old: Week 2

Your toddler's temperament is becoming more apparent with each passing day. At the playground, does he run straight for the swings, seesaw, or slide without a second glance at the other kids? Or is he more circumspect, sticking close to you and sizing up the situation before settling on an activity? Understanding your toddler's reactions to new situations will help you prepare your child for preschool and other activities in the future.

又過了一星期，可以發現小馨語彙能力增加，模仿能力也變強，常常覺得她很乖很好溝通，有時她也很有主見、很有自己的想法，不順著她的意思，還會大哭...
回應一下上述英文的描述，小馨的個性的確慢慢浮現，通常在家很活潑，在外面（包括在爺奶家）就顯得很乖，好像很懂事的樣子，據我們觀察，她比較像"大姊頭"的性格。在陌生環境不會這麼畏畏縮縮，但也不會主動大方會去跟人交朋友，一旦熟悉環境之後，才會放開盡情玩耍。

Your toddler now

Lessons in sharing
Sharing isn't one of your child's strong suits. Don't expect her to master this social grace until later. Right now your toddler is just learning about ownership: "Mine!" She isn't inclined to hand over her possessions, partly because she doesn't have a good understanding of time (when will I get it back?) or reciprocity (you do something for me, I'll do something for you).
小馨的確會分享喔，這點出乎我們意料之外，因為我們真的沒有刻意教她「分享」這件事，而她自己就會這麼做了：某天晚上我削好蘋果，將蘋果切塊後放在盤子上，她自己拿了幾個小塊的蘋果，又拿了一個大塊的蘋果往房間走，原來是要給把拔吃...讓把拔好感動呢！

Praise your child when you see her offering a toy to a friend or a baby. Model sharing, and use words that help your child understand what it means. For example, try asking if you can play with something she's playing with. If she protests, don't force it. Just say, "Can I have a turn?" With this back and forth, your toddler will start to get an idea of what sharing means.

Don't insist on sharing or set up turn-taking during playdates. Nor is it a good idea to hand over your child's toys to a visitor. Put out toys with lots of pieces (like blocks), and let the kids work out who uses what as much as possible.
沒錯！不要將原本屬於小朋友的玩具交給另一個小朋友，小馨就不能接受這種交換，除非事先得到她的同意。原本在小馨手上的玩具如果要拿走，一定要先跟小馨說，如果強硬地取走，可是會換來大哭大鬧！！

Correcting without criticizing
Criticize behavior when you must, but avoid criticizing your child. Pointing fingers does little to teach proper behavior.

Try phrasing statements to make clear which behaviors you like and which you don't: "I don't like that screechy noise you're making. Please use a quiet inside voice, like this." "I don't like it when you unroll the whole roll of toilet paper." "I like it when you come right away when I call you."


Parent tip
"If I'm folding a basket of laundry, I'll hand my son some napkins or dishtowels and ask him to 'help' me fold them. He may not actually fold anything, but by the time he's finished, I've actually gotten through the basket!" – Mollie
我也曾經請小馨幫忙我收衣服，我將曬衣架上的衣服拿給小馨，請她放在床上，她會乖乖照辦呢！掉下去的衣服也會撿起來放好喔！看到小馨可以幫忙，媽咪已經很高興了！！