How do you feel right now? Tired? Hungry? Fed up? Now imagine you don’t have a word for that experience.

That’s what it can be like for a toddler: you might be tired, but you don’t know what ‘tired’ is. You can help your wee one get to know themselves by telling them what they’re feeling. If your wee one is weary, for example, you can just say: ‘Oh you’re a bit tired tonight’. That way, your child can name that feeling and recognise it in future.

Is your mood always good? No, but usually, we have some idea why. Your wee one has changing feelings too but often doesn’t know why. You can help your child understand their moods. "Yes, you are happy because your friend is coming round" or "You are angry because Emma took your toy". This can help your toddler sort out problems and nip tantrums in the bud.