‘Me do it!’

Helping your toddler towards independence will reduce the number of tantrums he has!

There was a time when you did everything for your baby. Now, suddenly, he wants to do it all himself. And it’s tricky, for you both! Because, while his quest for independence is a fabulous sign that he’s growing in ability, your toddler will get very frustrated on this journey of trial and error, as he develops the skills he needs. “Toddlers learn by doing,” explains child development expert Dr Rebecca Chicot. “They try, try, and try again. The trouble is, there can be quite a long period of time in which his physical development lags behind his desire for independence.”

And getting frustrated is just fine – it will spur your youngster on to keep trying. But there’s lots you can