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This episode is Part 2 of our deep dive into ‘Gentle Parenting Trends’—and why social media doesn’t always model the best examples for real-life parenting. 

If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, I highly recommend starting there first! 

In that episode, I covered the first two key developmental stages:

✅ 12-18 months – The early stages of independence, how cause-and-effect learning is still concrete, and why emotional development starts with attunement from infancy... but it's up to us to shape it.

✅ 18-24 months – The beginning of boundary testing, the emerging nature of language, and why expecting toddlers to understand ‘why’ or ‘how’ questions is unrealistic.

👉 Listen to Part 1 here: CLICK NOW

Now, in Part 2, we’re tackling the third stage—ages 2 to 3 years—when social and emotional awareness starts to develop. 

This is when impulse control begins to emerge as the prefrontal cortex slowly comes online.

But here’s the reality: this part of the brain won’t fully mature until adulthood, so expecting self-regulation at this stage is not realistic.

However, there are things we can do to support—or unintentionally inhibit—this process. 

In this episode, I’ll break down:

✔️ How to guide your toddler through impulse control challenges
✔️ What lifestyle changes can strengthen (or weaken) self-regulation
✔️ Why social media ‘gentle parenting’ scripts often set parents up for frustration

Let’s cut through the confusion and focus on what truly helps your toddler thrive!

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