Toddler Skill

Log triggers, duration, what helped, what made it worse. Build a tantrum map:

🌋 Emma's Tantrum Map (Month 22)

Top triggers:
1. Being told "no" about something she wants    — 30% of tantrums
2. Tired + hungry combo (usually ~5pm)           — 25% of tantrums
3. Transition away from fun activity              — 20% of tantrums
4. Can't do something herself                     — 15% of tantrums
5. Sibling/sharing conflict                       — 10% of tantrums

What works:
  Offering 2 choices          — 70% success ("red cup or blue cup?")
  Distraction with bubbles    — 60% success
  Naming the emotion          — 55% success ("you're frustrated!")
  Hugging and waiting         — 50% success

What makes it WORSE:
  Saying "stop crying"        — escalates 90% of the time
  Picking her up forcefully   — escalates 80% of the time
  Reasoning/explaining        — useless during peak tantrum

Average duration: 4-5 minutes
Longest this month: 12 minutes (sandbox at park, didn't want to leave)
Frequency: ~2-3 per day (down from 4-5 last month)

2. Language Explosion Tracker

Toddlers go from 10 words to 200+ between 12-24 months:

🗣️ Emma's Language Explosion (Month 20)

Word count: ~85 words (tracking actively)
New words this week: "butterfly," "more please," "no way"
Longest sentence: "Daddy go work bye-bye" (4 words!)
Favorite word: "MINE" (used 47 times yesterday)

Funny mispronunciations:
  "pasketti" (spaghetti)
  "lellow" (yellow)
  "hangaber" (hamburger)
  "brella" (umbrella)

Bilingual tracking (English/Spanish):
  English words: ~60
  Spanish words: ~25
  Code-switching: "Quiero more juice" (mixing in same sentence — normal!)
  Prefers English with parents, Spanish with abuela

3. Potty Training Intelligence

Track readiness signs, successes, accidents, patterns:

🚽 Potty Training Progress (Month 28)

Readiness signs observed:
  ✅ Stays dry during naps (4/5 days)
  ✅ Tells us when diaper is wet
  ✅ Shows interest in the toilet
  ✅ Can pull pants up/down
  ⬜ Asks to use the potty (not yet)

This week:
  Successes: 8 (mostly morning and after nap)
  Accidents: 5 (all afternoon, during play)

Pattern: She's dry reliably in the morning. Afternoons when
         distracted by play — she forgets. Don't push it,
         just offer reminders every 45 min during play.

Reward system: Sticker chart — working well (she loves the
              rainbow stickers). M&M reward lost effectiveness
              after week 1.

4. Picky Eating Navigator

Track the ever-changing food preferences:

🍽️ Emma's Food Status (Month 24)

Will eat THIS week:
  Mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, blueberries, yogurt,
  bread with butter, rice, apple slices

Food jag alert: Mac and cheese for 8 days straight

Previously accepted, currently rejected:
  Broccoli (last eaten 2 weeks ago)
  Eggs (rejected for 1 month now)
  Banana (was a favorite until month 22)

Exposure tracking (needs 15-20 exposures):
  Sweet potato:  Offered 12x, eaten 3x — keep going
  Bell pepper:   Offered 7x, eaten 0x — licked it once
  Salmon:        Offered 5x, eaten 1x — accepted when flaked small

What helps:
  - Dipping sauces (ranch, ketchup) increase acceptance 40%
  - Eating together as a family increases acceptance 30%
  - Letting her "help" cook increases acceptance 50%
  - Pressure/forcing DECREASES acceptance (don't do it)

5. Social Intelligence

Track playdates, sharing, friendships:

👫 Social Profile (Month 26)

Best friends: Maya (daycare), Liam (neighbor)
Play style: Parallel → starting interactive play
Sharing: Will share with Maya, NOT with strangers
Groups: Sweet spot is 2-3 kids. Overwhelmed at big parties.

Playground: Loves slides, avoids swings, will climb anything
Stranger reaction: Shy for first 5 min, then warms up
Conflict style: Grabs toys → working on "use your words"

6. Routine & Transition Management

Track daily routines and what happens when they break:

📋 Emma's Daily Routine (Month 24)