When you're dealing with difficult behaviour it's helpful to understand why your child’s behaving that way...
It’s a simple fact that toddlers don’t understand when they’re boasting. Every time she does something well, you praise her. And you probably also praise her when she doesn’t do things so well – like colouring outside the lines of a picture. So why on earth wouldn't she think that she’s great? “Let her celebrate her achievement,” says child psychologist Dr Amanda Gummer ( from www.fundamentalsonline.co.uk). “It will encourage self-confidence. But make sure everything isn’t all about her. If you find your tot baiting siblings, for example, it’s time to step in.”
Meanwhile, remind her that different people are good at different things. So if she says she can do something and a friend can’t, point out what other things the friend can do and vice versa. “Children almost need not to be the best sometimes,” says child psychologist Jean O’Brien. “We don’t need to tell them they excel at everything.”
Teach your toddler that she should always tell you first when she thinks she’s done something great. Hopefully this’ll prevent her showing off too much to other people and coming across as arrogant or big-headed.
