A new enthusiasm for game playing
By now your toddler is
probably pretty good at walking, has a handful of words in her vocabulary, and likes to push and pull
toys while walking. She can most likely use a spoon or fork and might be able
to walk backwards. She probably likes playing games with you, like pointing to
body parts or pictures when asked. She also likes taking objects in and out of
containers. She's beginning to get a sense of how things fit -- she'll try
matching lids and stacking blocks.
Her individual style is developing
Every child is born
with a particular way of interacting with the world. This is her temperament.
As she grows, these inborn inclinations will begin to show. While one child
might tend to be flexible and adapt easily to change, another prefers a more
predictable schedule. Work out how your child is likely to respond and how you
can modify her environment to help her succeed. Adults can seek out the
circumstances that make them most comfortable, but your toddler depends completely
on you. Respecting your child's innate characteristics will help her develop
her fullest potential.
Awareness of self
At 15 months, your
toddler recognises herself in the mirror -- no longer will she reach out and
try to touch the "other" baby. She's beginning to experience herself
as an autonomous entity, not merely as an extension of you.
Just saying "no!"
Beginning as early as
a few months after their first birthday, most toddlers go through a period of
adamant no-saying. It's their way of asserting their new sense of self. You
might be able to reduce her "no" usage by keeping yours to a minimum.
Instead of saying "No, don't touch that," you could try "I'd
like you to play over here."