In joint actions and games with the child, the mother should make sure that the initiative gradually passes from her to the child. Interaction should be harmonious, i.e. a balance of initiative and reciprocal actions both from the mother’s side and from the child’s side should be observed. Try to respond to all initiatives of the baby. Do not forcibly interrupt the baby’s play in order to work with him or her (read a book, draw), do not interfere with his or her purposeful activity.
Create conditions for development of the child’s self-image. For this purpose give it freedom of choice of actions, toys and play partners. Respect the right of the child to his or her own opinion, independence and autonomy.
In order to develop a child’s ideas of his or her physical abilities, you should create conditions for a child to master complex movements by naming them, doing them together with the baby, then giving him or her a chance to perform them independently (at the request of an adult). For example, organize movement games that include different types of movements: walking, bouncing, squatting, jumping, running. Musical activities with simple dance movements are useful.
From time to time, take your child to the mirror, smile at his reflection, and call him by his name. Encourage your child to look at their clothes and relate their reflection in the mirror to reality. There is no need to be afraid that a child who enjoys looking at himself in the mirror, “showing off”, will grow narcissistic and spoiled. Psychologically, there is no connection between self-centeredness and looking at oneself in the mirror. Adults who do not like to look at themselves in the mirror often turn out to be insecure and to have an undervalued, inadequate self-image.
You should also teach your child to recognize yourself and others in pictures. They should show the child their mother, father, grandmother, familiar adults and other children. It is especially interesting for the child to recognize himself or herself at a younger age, to compare with him or herself at this moment, to observe changes in the child’s appearance and physical “I”.
It is necessary to take into account the child’s developing sense of ownership. Understanding that he or she has his or her own place at the table, his or her own corner to play in, his or her own crib, cup, clothes, etc., testifies to the development of self-awareness, an idea of oneself as the owner of certain things. This is not a manifestation of greed and self-love, as adults sometimes interpret such behavior of a baby. It is the growth of his/her knowledge about himself/herself. Therefore, you should respect the child’s right to property and at the same time teach him or her to reckon with similar rights of other people.
Offer boys and girls different toys, story games in accordance with the gender-role, approve, encourage behavior that corresponds to the sex of the child, creating conditions for the formation of gender identity. Thus, praise girls when they choose dolls, help with household chores (laundry, cleaning, cooking dinner, etc.); approve boys playing with cubes, cars, manipulating various objects, showing physical activity, emphasize the difference between the behavior of boys and girls.
Encourage your child to show empathy for the emotional states of others. Praise your baby for seeking to comfort a crying person and tell him or her how best to do it (offer a toy, give him or her sweets, hug and kiss him or her). Similarly, develop the child’s ability to share positive emotions with others: joy, admiration, feelings of pleasure, etc.
Create conditions for the formation of a concrete self-esteem, since the adult is at first the main connoisseur of the baby’s achievements, and his or her behavior largely determines how the child’s concrete self-esteem will be formed.