You asked

My toddler seems to want more attention than usual. Is this normal?

After spending 15 months with your baby, you probably think that you are used to your child’s constant demands for attention. However, while babies can be demanding, it is at this age that children really start to actively seek out your attention.

Your toddler is a very busy little person, and whereas your baby may have slept a fair amount of the day, your child now has two main interests during his or her waking hours: his or her toys, and you.

Your child may be finding his or her independence, but they still want the reassurance that mummy is there, and that you can be depended on. That’s why your child seeks you out when you move out of eyesight for more than a few minutes, and why you’re likely to have your toddler tugging on your sleeve a lot, demanding that you come and see what they are doing.
During this phase of development, your child is going to d just about anything he or she can to get your attention. That means whining, mimicking your behaviour, shouting, and laughing.
It is how you react that determines which behaviours will dominate. For instance, if you ignore whining, but respond to laughing, your child will learn that being happy is more likely to get mummy’s attention. Therefore, you will see more laughter!

Enrol your child in a playgroup or preschool, where his or her independence will come into play more and make sure that you are paying your child enough attention. In the mean time, realise that the attention seeking is not naughtiness – it is just another developmental phase.

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Up to the age of three, your toddler will be over separation anxiety. However, as there are so many separations in the years of growing up – pre-school, a few days away at camp, and even your child’s first year at college, bouts of separation anxiety could very well occur from time to time all through your child’s life.
As long as your toddler has plenty of space and time to play, and practice all their new physical skills, they’re probably doing just fine with her development!
Toddlers are naturally curious about everything. Instead of stifling that curiosity, you should be making every effort to promote it!
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If you want your child to grow up with a strong spiritual foundation, it’s never too young to start teaching, but remember to teach by example.
For toddlers, as with older children and adults, happiness comes from inside, not from outside.

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