Ask the Expert: Nurturing Emotional Intelligence From Early Childhood

Dear Anon, Thank you for writing in. At 2 years old, children are in an exploratory phase of development, trying to make sense of the world around them. While they experience the same emotions as older children and adults, they don’t yet have the language skills to express them. Instead of saying, "I feel upset that my toy broke" a toddler might show their frustration through behaviors like shouting, crying, throwing things, pushing, or even trying to bite. These are all normal and typical behaviors for a toddler. The newborn brain is 25% of the size of an adult brain, and by the time a child reaches two years old, it has grown to about 80%. This period is marked by rapid brain development, and toddlers often experience frustration when their bodies can’t keep up with their growing ideas and desires. They express this frustration through their behavior. It’s important to remain calm when he’s having a meltdown. You can set boundaries by holding his hands gently and saying something l