How should child care providers handle toileting accidents in young children?

In general, toileting accidents in the child care setting should be handled casually. Children who have learned to use the toilet may feel embarrassed if they wet their pants. Shaming or scolding the child will only make him more uncomfortable. Here are some quick tips for handling toileting accidents in the child care setting:

  • Help the child change clothes. If the child is old enough to dress himself independently, have him take responsibility for changing his own clothes.
  • Seal the

Signs Child Care Providers May Notice that Indicate Toilet Learning Readiness

Toddler with red shirt

Learning to use the toilet is an important milestone for young children. Child care providers and parents need to work together to decide when a toddler is ready to learn how to use the toilet. Here are some things child care providers should keep in mind as toddlers approach this important milestone:

  • Toilet learning is a process. Many parents and child care providers get impatient for the child to give up diapers and use the toilet. Be patient — learning

Helping Children with Toilet Learning in Child Care

Toddler toilet training

Learning to use the toilet is an important developmental milestone for toddlers. Child care providers can help children with this learning process by being encouraging, knowing the signs of toilet learning readiness, and keeping toileting routines as consistent as possible while children learn how to use the toilet.

Signs of Readiness for Toileting

Each child will follow his or her own time schedule in being ready to use the toilet. To use the toilet successfully, children must be able to …

Why do some toddlers bite other children? How can child care providers prevent biting before it happens?

Biting is common among very young children, particularly in group settings such as child care. It is very important for child care providers to understand why children bite so that they can help children find more appropriate ways to express themselves.

There are many reasons why young children bite. Here are some of the most common ones:

  • Children may be trying to express their independence and feel a sense of personal control.
  • Babies’ mouths are sore when teething; biting feels

What Child Care Providers Can Expect in Toddlers' Thinking and Language Development

Children doing music

Toddlers’ thinking and language skills change so quickly between 12 and 36 months. Children go from being able to say a few words to using complete sentences. During the toddler years, young children develop clear preferences for certain toys and activities, learn how to assemble and take things apart, use their imagination, and begin solving problems and testing out ideas.

Child care providers play an important role in promoting thinking and language skills in toddlers. By reading aloud, talking with …

Toddlers in Child Care

Toddler squatting down

The toddler years are a time of exploration, active play and developing independence. Caring for toddlers is exciting but can be exhausting. Child care providers will be better equipped to support and nurture toddlers if they understand some of the typical developmental milestones in the toddler years. The following articles provide information child care providers can use to better understand children’s growth and development between 12 and 36 months of age.

Developmental Milestones for Toddlers

What Child Care Providers Can Expect in Toddlers' Social and Emotional Development

Sad toddler girl in red shirt

Learning to become independent is one of the most important milestones of the toddler years. Toddlers who say “no” to everything and insist on doing things for themselves are building a sense of identity that is important for healthy development. Child care providers can support toddlers’ social and emotional development by providing opportunities for children to do things independently, practice problem solving and begin learning how to get along with others. Here are some common social and emotional milestones during …

What Child Care Providers Can Expect in Toddlers' Physical Development

Toddler on riding car

Child care providers play an important role in promoting toddlers’ physical development Young children grow and develop so quickly between the ages of 12 and 36 months. In two short years, toddlers move from just learning to walk to being able to run, climb and jump with confidence. Toddlers explore their environments by touching, handling and tasting everything around them. They move from very basic fine motor skills to being able to turn pages of a book and draw with …