Intellectual Development means being able to communicate, to think both creatively and abstractly, to pay attention, solve problems, and develop keen judgment and a lifelong readiness to learn.

Comfort Through the comfort and responsiveness of an adult, toddlers will learn how to handle their emotions and how to seek help when needed. Parents Can: Keep their toddler talking Child Will: Know you care about what he is saying, and enjoy listening to him Parents Can: Be attentive and responsive to their toddler's needs, but especially those she tries to communicate Child Will: Feel she is in a safe and secure place where people want to hear what she has to say Feel her needs and wants are understood

Play Through opportunities for play, toddlers will experience joyful, free, spontaneous moments of fun while learning about themselves and others. Parents Can: Play games with sounds and words by creating nonsense rhymes Child Will: Enjoy playing with rhyming sounds Parents Can: Actively involve their toddler in daily routines and describe what everyone is doing Child Will: Feel like he has something to contribute to the family Learn words match actions he sees and does Parents Can: Use music as an opportunity to practice words and move to rhythms Child Will: Discover the fun of singing and dancing Listen to the rhythms Learn new words and actions

Teach Through routines and emotionally and physically safe and secure environments, toddlers can learn how to think, solve problems and communicate. Parents Can: Add information that will help their toddler learn (for example, daily neighbourhood walks are a wonderful time to add new information) Child Will: Begin to incorporate new information into what she knows and tries to use it in her conversations Parents Can: Repeat what their toddler has said by modelling the correct pronunciation Child Will: Try to say the words he hears Parents Can: Read books together Child Will: Associate certain words with pictures Expand his vocabulary and use of language