Why does he keep playing with something he shouldn’t (like the tv remote, the radio, the artwork on the walls) even though he knows better?

Any adults assume that an infant or young toddler “knows better” because he looks ashamed when he is scolded.  Looking ashamed shows only that the child understands that he has earned your disapproval, not that he has done something wrong.  You may also notice that he may look proud when praised for doing something right. …

Why does she look at me and smile when she is doing something wrong?

With consistent, predictable routines, a child hears and sees limits and rules many times.  With sensitive guidance, she has tested the rule many times, and now understands what the rule is.  When she looks at you while breaking the rule, she is showing you that she knows the rule, and is checking to see whether…

Why does she walk away from the table with food?

Infants and young toddlers may not understand the reasons behind many rules that exist.  For example, she doesn’t know that it is unsafe or unsanitary to carry food or drinks around with her.  She may be too young to know why she needs to sit to eat, but she needs to experience this as a…