The Emotional Needs of Toddlers

Although the toddlers cannot verbalize their emotions, their feelings in a particular situation but their behavior shows what they feel. Identifying the child’s mood and reacting towards it determines how parents meet their emotional needs. It is not an easy job as the children have mixed feelings and emotions. They might express themselves with tantrums, bouts of aggression and crying with any actual reason. At this time, they want someone, especially their parents, to give them time, attention and make them feel secure and loved.

The need to Feel Secure

The essential need for the emotional well- being of kids is to make them feel safe and secure. You need to promote the feeling of security in your kids by keeping your words. For instance, if you say that you will take your child to the park in the evening, then it is essential to do so. You need to be friendly with your child so that they feel secure.

The need to Feel Heard

Even with limited verbal communication ability, kids want to be heard. They put all their effort as they can to make you understand what they need. But if adults do not understand them, they get frustrated. To avoid the communication gap, you need to understand your kid's attempt to communicate and make them learn the right way to express themselves.

The need to Feel Included

It is the need of every child to get importance from their loved ones. Those children who are given importance and are involved in daily activities or discussion have a well-groomed and confident personality. So, you can make your child included by spending time with them doing different activities like taking help from them while baking cookies, in gardening or building a tower from blocks with them. You should give them a chance to express what they think and should appreciate their contribution.

The need to Feel Loved

It is the need of every living thing to be loved whether they are birds, animals or humans. You can get everything in exchange for love. Children want your attention and time. They want you to take care of and support them. You don’t need to be with them all the time, but you need to make them know that you will be there for them at any time they need. It makes them feel secure and loved.

The need to Feel Accepted

Children do things the way they imagine them. It is not compulsory that they do things in the way you want them to. Let them do it their way. They need your acceptance. Spend time with them while watching and listening to their ideas and understanding their way of seeing the world. For example, if your child is playing with the dollhouse and she put the bathtub on the roof, then it’s okay. Don’t start finding mistakes in it; accept their way of doing things. You should appreciate them and support them so that they can confidently live and grow up.