CO-OPERATIVE TODDLER PLAY.
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THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM
Having been nurtured in the early years, the 2-4 year old child is now starting to explore the world, wandering further and staying longer away from the safety of a parenting presence. To the extent that earlier dependency-needs were fulfilled, the child now starts to bring boundless energy to the flight to freedom, as he asserts his separate self-identity. Tentatively, the child is testing the limits of autonomous individuality; his freedom to want and feel differently from mother. Efforts to differentiate himself from his parents begin in earnest, so the child now needs supporting in the shape of being let go, yet warmly received when he runs back to the parent’s side. The parents act as a safe ‘home base’ for the exploring child. Robin Grille – Parenting for a Peaceful World |