Child Handbook

Toddler thought process: recent studies suggest that toddler's don't reason like adults, but instead recall the past as necessary.refhttp://www.livescience.com/culture/090324-toddlers-listen.html/ref This is partly why advice is ineffectual (put on your coat). The toddler does not need a coat and does not reason about the future. Instead, they rush outside, realize it's cold, then recall that a jacket would help.

Toddlers and tantrums^[1]: Do not reason with the toddler, it will only infuriate them. Instead, acknowledge their emotion simply and plainly, You are angry, You are upset.

Praising children^[2] to encourage your child at something, engage them on how they did it, not just the fact that they did it. E.g., if your child solves a math problem ask how they solved it and then say, "That's a really good way to solve that." Do NOT say "Oh, you're my little mathematician. You're so good at math." The latter teaches the child that success comes from innate ability rather than learn-able processes. Praise strategy and effort.

Expensive gadgets: before giving your child an expensive gadget, which they may lose, give them something else--like a deck of cards--to train on not losing it.

Stay barefoot^[3] (most of the time). Let your kid learn to walk properly, forefoot first. When we walk in shoes, we learn to strike heel first. Over time, this damages the knee and foot. Shoes are a useful tool, but we shouldn't let them fuck up how we walk.

TODO: What can we do with a deeper understanding of curiosity

References