Your child's becoming strong willed and may react violently when thwarted or reprimanded. At the same time, she's beginning to interact with other children!

She's also becoming bossy and tries to give orders to siblings or other children. Easily frustrated and still unable to express herself comfortably through words, she may resort to pushing or biting when she can't get her own way.

Playing together
Paradoxically, most toddlers begin to 'make friends' at this stage and enjoy being with other children. Later, she starts to play with them, rather than merely playing alongside them. She may try to enrol them in 'pretend' games and copy their actions and games.

She's still possessive with toys and may become physically aggressive if other children touch them without permission. By the end of the 3rd year, she's more prepared to share, and can join in make-believe play with other children.

A liking for routines
Your child begins to learn the concepts of sequence and organisation and may demand that they are rigidly followed. She won't eat unless she has her favourite spoon. She may become tearful or angry if you try to skip part of a story or a nursery rhyme, turning back to the page that you have ignored.

Take advantage of this stage to develop orderly habits for the future! Help her to tidy her toys away in carefully organized containers and put her clothes in the correct drawers or cupboards.

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