Successful toileting usually occurs toward the end of the third year when the child becomes able to control his sphincter, undress, get onto the potty, and has the willingness to participate. Although toilet training may be introduced at an earlier age, success with consistent daytime dryness usually is not achieved until about 2.5 years of age. Playing with imaginary friends Attachment Attachment refers to the bond that forms between the infant and the caregiver. Disorders of attachment may result from inconsistent caregiving and are more common in the presence of poverty, drug use, or emotional illness. Affected toddlers may not show interest in exploring the environment.
Temperament determines how a child approaches a given situation.
Cognitive Development Toddlerhood is characterized by a transition from sensorimotor to preoperational thinking. During the sensorimotor period, the infant primarily learns about the world by touching, looking, and listening. Preoperational thought is marked by the development of symbolic thinking, as the child becomes capable of forming mental images and begins to solve problems by mental trial and error. After 18 months the toddler begins to put together phrases. When developmental surveillance suggests delay, a screening test is necessary.