@drmckenziepsych: This little guy is adorable ♥️ Between about 18 months and 3 years old, kids are in what famous developmental psychologist, Erik Erikson called autonomy vs. shame and self-doubt (from his theory of psychosocial development) Kids this age start asking themselves: “Can I do things myself?” That’s why you hear “me do it,” “mine,” or “no” all day long. This can be very tiring as a parent. Their drive for independence is HIGH… and their skills are still catching up. So when something doesn’t work right away like cutting food, getting dressed, going potty, it can lead to frustration and outbursts. This isn’t bad behaviour, it’s developmentally appropriate. How you respond as a parent in this stage is important. If we always take over → they can start to doubt themselves and it doesn’t give them a chance to develop their own confidence and independence. So to encourage autonomy and minimize shame and self-doubt, consider the following: ✨ When they want to do something themselves, let them try as much as possible so they build confidence and reduce self-doubt (assuming the task is safe). I know you won’t always have time if you’re in a rush, that’s fine. ✨ Offer choices (you define the options but they get autonomy to choose). Blue cup or green cup today? ✨ Break things into manageable steps (I’ll put your pants on, you pull them up) ✨ Praise effort, not perfection. Don’t punish or criticize. This can lead to shame over time. Sending love, Dr. McKenzie 🩵 ⚠️ This is general education only, it is not a substitute for therapy and is not a personalized plan for any one child. This is not professional advice for your specific situation. Seek out support if needed. #toddler #tantrums #parenting #childpsychologist #raisingtoddlers

Dr. McKenzie | Psychologist

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Monday 30 March 2026 18:33:55 GMT