The discovery years

These are the Discovery Years when your daughter is working out where she fits in the world and how much control she has over it. She is moving towards forming her own identity. Girls differ from boys in the way they acquire skills at this age.

Speech: she is likely to be more talkative because the left hemisphere of her brain develops faster than a boy’s. Even before speech develops she will enjoy looking at picture books and listening to simple stories and rhymes. Early experience of rhythm and rhyme are important to future success in reading and writing.

Impulse control: she is better able to monitor and control her behaviour because her brain secretes more serotonin. Early play tends to be solitary; later she will play alongside others and eventually with them.

Multitasking: her occipital lobe develops faster so she has greater sensory awareness, including of others’ emotions, and because it secretes more oxytocin she has a need to nurture.

In these years it is important to show your love, give her praise, listen and chat with her. Provide plenty of opportunities for her to develop her skills and friendships, perhaps at a toddler group or nursery. By responding to her endless demands “pick me up”, “put me down”, “watch me” you build her trust. By playing and reading and answering all those “why?” questions you develop her confidence and imagination.