This is an important stage in the growth of self-esteem. Your child's sense of identity is developing alongside an increasing awareness of his connection with others.

He wants to win approval for new abilities and gains confidence from praise. Although your approval is important, your child's also struggling to assert his independence and continues to reject many parental demands. During a tantrum, he's less easily distracted, which makes dealing with tantrums more difficult.

On the positive side...
Your toddler begins to understand that being asked to wait for something doesn't mean that he won't get it. He doesn't have to have everything at once. He can defer gratification for a short time.

When he is 'naughty,' try to respond patiently. Express disapproval of your child's actions without attacking his self-worth. This is a good time to begin reinforcing the message that you will always love him, although you don't always like his behaviour.

An increasing sense of 'self'
As your child's abilities grow, he becomes increasingly eager to have his contributions recognized. Praise him for his efforts, when he tries to do things for himself or tries to 'help' you. Although you can certainly do most things faster yourself, it's important to build his confidence and skills.

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