Self-esteem and self-confidence begin to develop during your child’s toddler years. As your toddler approaches his second birthday, he will begin to assert himself. When safety and discipline are not issues, toddlers should be encouraged to lead and explore. At this phase of development, parents can help their child develop positive self-esteem by allowing their child to develop at his own pace and cheering his accomplishments.
Between 31 and 36 months children begin to think for themselves and are increasingly able to engage in symbolic play: using one object to represent another; for example, using a block as a bed for a doll. Imaginative play goes hand-in-hand with symbolic play as toddlers begin using props to explore the difference between reality and fantasy. Cooperative play begins but parents should expect progress to be slow. Most children understand the concepts of sharing and taking turns by the time they turn 3 but are too egocentric to be successful in practice. The expansion of a child’s world view beyond his own needs to include the needs of other people takes years of development.