When your toddler is struggling - with a zipper, a shoe, climbing onto something - how do you know if you should step in or wait?
In this episode, early child development specialist and speech-language pathologist Erin Hyer (nearly 40 years working with toddlers and the families raising them) breaks down the difference between productive struggle and genuine overwhelm - and gives you a simple question to ask in the moment: is my child still available for learning?
You'll learn:
Why your toddler's brain actually needs some struggle to grow (and where that principle comes from)
How to tell productive frustration apart from real overwhelm - before it escalates
The one question to ask instead of "do I help or not": what's the smallest amount of support that helps my child succeed?
This episode also connects back to two ideas from earlier in the series: episode 166's Model, Shape, Practice, Fade framework, and episode 167 on what actually teaches toddlers to talk.
Erin closed her clinical practice a few years ago to do this instead - walk alongside parents before a small struggle becomes a bigger one.
If something in this episode brings a specific moment with your child to mind, bring it to a free Clarity Call - a complementary 20-minute conversation to sort through what's happening and figure out your next step.
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified health provider with questions about your child’s development or health. The views shared are based on Erin Hyer’s professional experience and are intended to support informed parenting, not to replace individual consultation or care. Every child and family is unique — please use your discretion and consult trusted professionals when making decisions for your child.
Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör
Erin Hyer. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Erin Hyer och inte av,
eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.
