AS OUR children grow from being a baby into their toddler years you will see their character forming, sometimes on a daily basis. As parents this is a wonderful thing to behold, though for some parents it is easy to fall into the trap of comparing little ones to their siblings and their peers and this can be very harmful to their development.

Each child is unique - even if you have a set of twins or triplets they can be very different from each other.

Loving your child for who they are is so important for their positive mental health - expecting them to be what they are not and comparing them to others is, on the other hand, extremely damaging.

I, like so many parents, have at times put too much importance on my girls’ achievements and have forgotten about what really matters - that they are happy and healthy!

No one can prepare you for parenthood and you just have to learn these skills ‘on the job’ and, of course, we all make mistakes sometimes. Listening to you children will help you to do the right thing.

Growing up can be such a tricky time with lots of obstacles to overcome. If a child has a stable and loving family who give unconditional love, they will be confident enough to navigate the many pitfalls that life deals them.

So remember! In order to help your child grow into a happy, healthy and confident adult - wrap your arms around them and tell them you love them no matter what!

See: www.parentandbabycoach.co.uk

Next week: Helping your toddler manage their emotions