Show Notes
What is stealing your toddler’s attention? If your child seems constantly distracted, overly active, emotionally reactive, or unable to stay with one activity for very long, the answer may be more complicated than simply “they need to learn to focus.” In this episode of Talking Toddlers, Erin looks at four powerful influences shaping a young child’s developing attention: predictable daily rhythms, restorative sleep, screens and overstimulation, and meaningful play and participation. You’ll le...
More from Talking Toddlers
💜 FREE Guide: Help Your Toddler Learn To Play Independently Does your toddler need you to entertain him all day? Does he lose interest in toys quickly, follow you everywhere, or struggle to figure out what to do next? You might be surprised by what's really involved in learning to play independently. In this episode, Erin Hyer explores the power of open-ended play and how everyday experiences help young children develop imagination, problem-solving, communication, and confidence. Y...
Does your toddler understand what you're saying? And how can you help him become a better listener - even before he's talking in sentences? Between 12 and 24 months, your toddler is developing important listening and understanding skills. But these skills don't develop simply by memorizing words, colors, or numbers. Real understanding grows through everyday experiences, meaningful interactions, and opportunities to participate in family life. In this episode of Talking Toddlers, Erin Hy...
Should my toddler be talking more? It’s an understandable question, but word count alone does not tell you how well your child is communicating. In this episode, I explain the developmental skills sitting underneath talking — including initiation, shared attention, turn-taking, and the different jobs language begins to do in everyday life. You’ll also learn what to watch for instead of only counting words, why too many questions can sometimes make toddlers quieter, and one simple way to creat...
Does your toddler seem able to focus deeply on a screen, but struggle to stay with a book, sit through a meal, play independently, or listen when you need him to? In this episode, Erin looks beyond the surface and explains what attention actually asks of a developing child. A screen may be very effective at holding attention, but real-world attention is built through movement, participation, repetition, curiosity, problem-solving, connection, and everyday life. You’ll also hear why sleep, nut...
When every little thing starts feeling like a battle, the problem may not be the cup, the shoes, the bath, or leaving the park. The final trigger is often only one part of a much bigger developmental picture. In this episode, I’m helping you widen the lens. We’ll talk about why toddler skills are still emerging, why having a skill is not the same as being able to access it under every condition, and why a child who handled something beautifully yesterday may struggle with it today. We’ll also...