During toddlerhood, children usually complete the stage of trust. Trust allows toddlers to explore their world independently. Toddlers begin to see themselves as individuals who are separate from their parents and able to explore freely. During this period, a child's thinking is extremely self-centered. Children see the world only from their own perspective, focusing on themselves and having difficulty understanding other points of view.
Independence is the primary emotional stage during the preschool years.
During this stage, toilet training and language development usually occur. Responding to acts of normal development with severe punishments or by making the child feel guilty can be harmful, particularly during this stage. At about 18 months of age, children realize that they are separate from their parents, but they are not aware that who they are will remain so throughout their lives. This recognition does not occur until between ages 5 and 7. Behaviors such as whining in check-out lines, physical outbursts against siblings, and inability to sit still when waiting are examples of loss of control.