Bodies are like an adventure playground to little ones. Here’s why they do the embarrassing (and sometimes disgusting) things they do, and how to cope
Manners and social decorum aren’t qualities that come naturally to toddlers – usually the opposite in fact. If there’s something to pick or play with, they’ll be right on to it.
“Toddlers don’t have any of the hangs-ups or the sense of decency older people have. For them, modesty doesn’t come into things,” says consultant clinical psychologist Emma Citron.
Whether it’s pulling down their pants or publicly examining their bogies, much of what we find embarrassing behaviour is actually, for your toddler, about exploring himself and his world.” Toddlers are at the stage where a lot of learning is still about exploring through touch,” explains child psychologist Ruth Coppard, (www.helpmehelpmychild.com).But what do you do when your little one’s at it, especially in public?
