5 Habits That Seem “Naughty” But Signal Your Child Is a Developmental Superstar

Toddlers ripping paper is a way for them to learn and develop their brains. Don't despair over the mess; see it as a good sign of your child's progress.

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During their development, children tend to exhibit certain behaviors that parents may find frustrating, such as throwing objects or tearing things apart. Some may even resort to punitive measures. However, it is important to recognize that these behaviors are not inherently negative. Rather, they are natural expressions of children’s developmental processes, including:

Throwing Objects

Children often enjoy throwing toys and other items around, creating a scene of clutter that can be bothersome to parents. However, object throwing is actually part of a child’s exploration of their physical world. As an object moves through the air, makes sounds or breaks apart, it stimulates a child’s senses and encourages further investigation.

This helps them develop a sense of spatial relationships between themselves and their surroundings. Instead of prohibiting throwing altogether, parents can create a safe environment by removing breakable or dangerous objects and providing a designated box of toys where children can freely engage in throwing. Parents can also join in the activity, turning it into a game of who can throw with the most accuracy. As the child’s need for throwing is met in a safe and supervised manner, they will naturally outgrow the habit of throwing inappropriate objects.

Object throwing is actually part of a child’s exploration of their physical world

Tearing Paper

Children also tend to engage in paper tearing, an activity that many parents may find messy. However, this behavior helps develop a child’s fine motor skills. As they tear a piece of paper into different shapes and directions, they experience a sense of wonder and accomplishment.

According to psychologists, a child’s hands are considered their “second brain,” meaning that manipulating with their hands is equivalent to thinking. Therefore, restricting this activity would be akin to discouraging cognitive development.

Parents can provide children with clean, non-toxic paper, such as newspapers, which they can freely tear and explore. This will stimulate their creativity and imagination.

Tearing paper helps develop a child’s fine motor skills

Walking Barefoot

While many parents worry about dirt and insist on shoes and socks for their little ones, children naturally enjoy walking barefoot and exploring their surroundings. A scientific study has shown that walking barefoot stimulates nerves in the soles of the feet, helping children become more aware of the ground beneath them and adjust their gait accordingly, thus improving their posture.

Designers also believe that children’s feet are still developing between the ages of 0 and 10, making it beneficial for them to go barefoot as much as possible. Shoes should only be worn in extreme conditions to avoid discomfort or injury to their feet.

Parents should allow their children to spend time barefoot when weather permits. If necessary, thin, non-slip socks can be worn for safety.

Eating With Their Hands

Self-feeding can be a messy challenge for parents who worry about hygiene. However, it is crucial for children between the ages of 1 and 3 to practice self-feeding as part of their journey towards independence. When children handle food with their hands and bring it to their mouths, they not only increase their interest in eating but also develop hand-eye coordination, self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment.

Parents can create a dedicated eating space for their children, provide them with child-sized utensils such as bowls, spoons and bibs, and ensure their hands are clean. They should then allow their children to freely explore and enjoy their meals.

When children handle food with their hands and bring it to their mouths, they not only increase their interest in eating but also develop hand-eye coordination

Refusing to Share Possessions

Some parents become frustrated when their child insists on keeping possessions to themselves, often labeling them as selfish for refusing to share toys or food with others. However, this is simply a child’s early understanding of ownership. They are not being selfish, but rather developing a sense of self and personal property.

Before the age of one, children typically view themselves as a single unit with their mothers. However, as they begin to recognize their own existence, they differentiate themselves from others through the ownership of objects.

Forcing a child to share can damage their emerging sense of personal space and may even make them more likely to give away their possessions easily later on.

Parents should avoid reprimanding or pressuring children to share. With time, children will naturally develop an understanding of sharing, particularly after the age of three. For children under three, parents can simply help them understand that sharing does not mean losing an item, but rather lending it out and having it returned to them.

Frequently asked questions

Paper tearing is an activity that helps children develop their fine motor skills and stimulates their sense of wonder and accomplishment. Psychologists consider a child’s hands as their “second brain,” meaning that manipulating objects with their hands aids cognitive development. Providing children with safe, non-toxic paper to tear and explore can enhance their creativity and imagination.

Walking barefoot has its benefits. It stimulates nerves in the soles of the feet, improving a child’s awareness of the ground and helping them adjust their gait and posture. Designers and experts also believe that going barefoot aids in the development of children’s feet up to the age of 10. However, shoes should be worn in extreme conditions to protect their feet from discomfort or injury.

Self-feeding is crucial for children between the ages of 1 and 3 as it fosters independence. When children handle food with their hands and feed themselves, they develop hand-eye coordination, self-confidence, and a sense of accomplishment. It also increases their interest in eating. Parents can support this by creating a dedicated eating space with child-sized utensils and ensuring their hands are clean.

Refusing to share possessions is a child’s early understanding of ownership and developing a sense of self and personal property. Forcing a child to share can intrude on their sense of personal space. Parents should avoid reprimanding them for this behavior. Instead, help them understand that sharing involves lending and eventually getting their possessions back. With time, particularly after the age of three, children will naturally develop a willingness to share.
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