Skip to main content
Pinned Navigation Logo
Contact Us
Pinned Navigation Logo
  • Our Solutions

    See All Solutions

    For Parents

    Early Education & Preschool

    Early Education & Preschool

    • Overview
    • Infant Care
    • Toddler Care & Education
    • Preschool
    • Kindergarten Prep
    • Kindergarten
    • Our Curriculum

    For Employers

    Bright Horizons Family Solutions

    Bright Horizons Family Solutions

    • Overview
    • On-Site Child Care
    • Back-Up Care
    • Elder Care
    • College Coach
    • Enhanced Family Supports
    • Global Services
    • Tuition Subsidies

    EdAssist by Bright Horizons

    EdAssist by Bright Horizons

    • Overview
    • Employee Education Solutions

    Bright Horizons Workforce Consulting

    Featured Industry: Healthcare

  • Who We Are

    Who We Are

    • About Us
    • Values
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • History
    • Leadership
    • Awards
    • Foundation
    • News
    • Responsibility
  • Resources
  • Log In
  • Search
  • Find a Center
  • Find a Center
  • Log In
  • Search Bright Horizons

Pinned Navigation Logo

Navigate to your portal

Select a path to log in to your desired Bright Horizons website.

Child Care Center

Access your day-to-day childcare activities and communications through the Family Information Center.

Employee Benefits

Access your employer-sponsored benefits such as Back-Up Care, EdAssist, and more.

Top Navigation Logo
Contact Us
Top Navigation Logo
  • Our Solutions

    See All Solutions

    For Parents

    Early Education & Preschool

    Early Education & Preschool

    • Overview
    • Infant Care
    • Toddler Care & Education
    • Preschool
    • Kindergarten Prep
    • Kindergarten
    • Our Curriculum

    For Employers

    Bright Horizons Family Solutions

    Bright Horizons Family Solutions

    • Overview
    • On-Site Child Care
    • Back-Up Care
    • Elder Care
    • College Coach
    • Enhanced Family Supports
    • Global Services
    • Tuition Subsidies

    EdAssist by Bright Horizons

    EdAssist by Bright Horizons

    • Overview
    • Employee Education Solutions

    Bright Horizons Workforce Consulting

    Featured Industry: Healthcare

  • Who We Are

    Who We Are

    • About Us
    • Values
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • History
    • Leadership
    • Awards
    • Foundation
    • News
    • Responsibility
  • Resources
  • Log In
  • Search
  • Find a Center
  • Find a Center
  • Log In
  • Search Bright Horizons

Top Navigation Logo

Navigate to your portal

Select a path to log in to your desired Bright Horizons website.

Child Care Center.

Access your day-to-day childcare activities and communications through the Family Information Center.

Employee Benefits

Access your employer-sponsored benefits such as Back-Up Care, EdAssist, and more.

Find a Center

Locate our child care centers, preschools, and schools near you

    Need to make a reservation to use your Bright Horizons Back-Up Care?

    Log in to Schedule Backup Care

    I'm interested in

    Looking for a child care center Accessing my benefits Providing benefits to my employees Joining the Bright Horizons Team Contact Support
    My Children

    7 Toddler Behaviors Explained

    Blog posted by Bright Horizons on May 8, 2022
    Toddler boy with a mischievous look on his face|Toddler boy with ear of corn|Toddler boy in the snow

    Imagine landing on an unfamiliar planet, inhabiting an unfamiliar body. That’s essentially what toddlers experience. They’re learning about themselves, other people, and their surroundings, and their brains and bodies are growing more rapidly than at any other time in their lives.

    It’s no wonder then that their behavior can be perplexing or downright challenging to us. They’re trying to make sense of feelings, physical sensations, language, and relationships, all while learning about rules and expectations. Whew!

    The next time your toddler’s behavior leaves you scratching your head, take a minute to think about the “why.” What is my toddler trying to figure out or master? What big emotions is my child feeling? How can I reduce my child’s frustration or make this easier?

    7 TODDLER BEHAVIORS AND WHY THEY HAPPEN

    The Behavior: Dumping Toys, Shoes, Books, Etc.

    The Why: Toddlers are passionate about exploring, discovering, and learning. Rotate toys instead of putting them all out at once. Use labeled, organized bins to make clean-up a snap. Remove or put locks on things that are off limits.

    The Behavior: “No, No, No!”

    The Why: Toddlers are learning to become their own individuals and exerting their opinion is part of that process. They also get to make very few decisions about their day. Acknowledge that their opinions matter, but give toddlers simple reasons for your request. Then offer limited choices so they feel they have some control in the situation. For example, “I hear that you don’t want to put your shoes on. It’s cold outside though. You need shoes to stay warm. Would you like to wear your boots or your sneakers?”

    The Behavior: “I Do It Myself”

    The Why: Toddlers are gaining confidence and independence, but their skills sometimes lag behind. They don’t understand abstract concepts like time or schedules, and they are fully immersed in the here and now so rushing them through tasks can create friction and frustration. Try to build time in your day to allow for “slow.” Show your child a few tricks to simplify daily tasks like putting on shoes.

    The Behavior: Hitting, Pushing, or Biting

    The Why: Toddlers get frustrated easily because they are learning to communicate and also learning to control their emotions. They often express themselves through physical means. Set clear rules about behavior, and teach your child alternatives, e.g., “You’re mad because you want the toy car. You can’t hit, but you can say, ‘Can I have a turn?”’ Sometimes toddlers hit because they’re hungry, tired, or overwhelmed. Watch for signs of fatigue and take a break before your child starts swinging.

    The Behavior: "It's mine! Mine! Mine!"

    The Why: Toddlers are learning social skills and do not yet know how to share. Model how to share, put away beloved toys (or have multiples), and keep your expectations realistic.

    The Behavior: Tantrum

    The Why: Toddlers don’t have a lot of control over their lives, and everything is hard – from putting on shoes to trying to reach a cup that’s just out of reach. At the same time, they’re still gaining language and can’t always tell us what’s wrong. Show empathy, take a deep breath, and stay calm. Offer a hug or give your child some space (depending on what they need). If you’re in public, remove your child to a quiet space.

    The Behavior: Constant Motion

    The Why: Toddlers are naturally energetic and exuberant, and can you blame them? They’ve only recently mastered walking, running, climbing, etc. Make sure your child has opportunities throughout the day for active play.

    Bright Horizons
    About the Author
    Bright Horizons
    Bright Horizons
    In 1986, our founders saw that child care was an enormous obstacle for working parents. On-site centers became one way we responded to help employees – and organizations --...
    Share This
    Toddler boy with a mischievous look on his face|Toddler boy with ear of corn|Toddler boy in the snow

    Looking for Child Care?

    Bright Horizons child care centers have been supporting children and parents for more than 30 years. Designed by experts; facilitated by educators; created with working parents in mind – our centers are a place for children to discover skills and become confident learners for life.

    Recommended for you

    Teach. Play. Love. Podcast
    Podcast
    Teach. Play. Love. Episode 10: Children Need Positive Guidance
    • Rachel Robertson
    • parenting toddlers
    Parenting Style|Parenting Style Expert
    Blog
    From Our Blog: Parenting Styles: Your Questions Answered
    • parenting styles
    A family of two moms and two sons showing a different family structure
    Blog
    From Our Blog: Tips to Teach Children about Different Types of Families
    • diversity
    • teaching tolerance

    We have a library of resources for you about all kinds of topics like this!

    View All Our Resources

    Our Solutions
    for Parents

    • Early Education & Preschool
    • Our Curriculum
    • College Coach for Families
    • Log in to My Services

    Our Solutions
    for Employers

    Bright Horizons Family Solutions

    • On-Site Child Care
    • Back-Up Care
    • Elder Care
    • College Coach
    • Enhanced Family Supports
    • Global Services
    • Tuition Subsidies

    EdAssist by Bright Horizons

    • Employee Education Solutions

    Bright Horizons Workforce Consulting

    More from
    Bright Horizons

    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Newsroom
    • Locations
    • Global Locations
    • United Kingdom
    • The Netherlands
    • Investor Relations
    • Resource Library
    • Bright Horizons Foundation for Children
    • Corporate Responsibility

    Our Solutions
    for Parents

    • Early Education & Preschool
    • Our Curriculum
    • College Coach for Families
    • Log in to My Services

    Our Solutions
    for Employers

    Bright Horizons Family Solutions

    • On-Site Child Care
    • Back-Up Care
    • Elder Care
    • College Coach
    • Enhanced Family Supports
    • Global Services
    • Tuition Subsidies

    EdAssist by Bright Horizons

    • Employee Education Solutions

    Bright Horizons Workforce Consulting

    More from
    Bright Horizons

    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Newsroom
    • Locations
    • Global Locations
    • United Kingdom
    • The Netherlands
    • Investor Relations
    • Resource Library
    • Bright Horizons Foundation for Children
    • Corporate Responsibility

    Connect with Bright Horizons

    Find a Center Contact Support

    © 2024 Bright Horizons Family Solutions. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Notice | Cookie Notice | Acceptable Use Policy | Trademarks