Your Clever Toddler in Week 88: The Beginning of Empathy

Some children by nature are more empathetic than others. Whether your child is naturally empathetic or not, it's important to cultivate this quality: His or her whole lifetime of relationships depends upon it.

Fostering empathy can be a natural part of your everyday discussions. At play group, for example, describe for your child how her actions affect her playmates, especially when your toddler has wronged another: "Look at Emilia. She's angry that you grabbed the doll from her. You need to return it. You can have a turn when she's finished playing with it." Help your child identify other children's emotions by identifying and naming them for her, suggesting appropriate responses: "Uh-oh, it looks like your sister is sad. Let's go comfort her."

Some children turn 8 before they totally acquire empathy. For now, it's an attribute that you can work on honing in your own child as he or she traverses the coming developmental years.

Coming soon, look forward to: Week 89: Announcing Accomplishments
Review the most recent accomplishments: Week 87: Exploring On Her Own

Curious about how else your toddler might be developing right now? Learn more about her clever brain and her growing body here:

• What's happening in Month 21?
• Here's what our pediatrician says you might be worried about this month.