Take Your Pick, Sweetie
Young Parents Singapore|November 2017

Should you really give your little one choices? What’s wrong with telling her outright what you want her to do? DR RICHARD C. WOOLFSON weighs in on the issue.

Dr Richard C. Woolfson
Take Your Pick, Sweetie

One-year-olds like to do things their way. It’s not surprising that your toddler throws a tantrum when she can’t choose what she wants to do, wear or eat.

On a positive note, you should be delighted that your growing child is keen to be independent and can think for herself.

You certainly want her to become more self-reliant and to have the ability to make good choices as she grows through the preschool years.

She’ll be proud to make decisions without your help; and you’ll be pleased when she makes choices you approve of.

On the other hand, she is only one year old and still has a lot to learn. You may doubt the wisdom of giving her choices at this age, for example, letting her pick between red shoes and blue sandals.

Chances are, you were not brought up that way, and you may prefer to tell her outright every time what you want her to do.

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