Good morning,  

Your children are developing and changing every day! Some of these changes are so much fun, and others, not so much. Whether it be fussiness, defiance, aggression, or anxiety, all are so important and necessary stages of development. 

I came across a great interactive baby brain article on the Zero To Three website, which talks about the different parts of the brain that are developing at different ages, what is normal to expect, and how you can help your child navigate those tough stages! 

I love when parents ask questions in class or after class about their child's developmental behaviors. I am currently running a Sprouting Melodies 3 class, during which several kids are beginning to discover "me" and "mine." This stage of learning about the self in relation to others is a necessary part of learning social interaction. At the same time, self-control has not quite developed, so some aggressive behaviors such as biting, pushing, hitting, etc. may occur. This is normal. What you can do to help your child understand their emotions is by observing their body language and behavior. They understand so much, but have trouble expressing it in a safe way. If you can label their aggression while redirecting, they will begin to learn to connect the emotions and behaviors they are experiencing. 

Stopping a behavior is much harder for young children than starting a behavior, so the best way to redirect a child is to give a new direction as opposed to just saying "stop." For example, instead of saying "stop talking," try "quiet please."  

For those of you with younger children in Sprouting Melodies 1 or 2, there are some great topics in the baby brain article linked to above that talk about sensory development, and the importance of bonding with caregivers to develop awareness and trust. Enjoy reading, and I'll see you in class!