Wonder why your baby doesn’t seem to be bored in spite of hearing you sing "itsy-bitsy spider" over and over again? It is because toddlers love repetition. Children in the 12-18 month age group are looking for a routine to fall into. They like the predictability and solidity that comes with repetition of an act, a routine or a rhyme.

Repeating words and actions over and over again teaches toddlers the consequence of an action. Your baby does not know about gravity but he knows that if he throws a spoon from his high chair, it will fall to the ground. He does this over and over, not to annoy you but to learn the consequence of his action. Repetition is a toddler’s way of learning.

Similarly, your baby will love to hear you repeat a rhyme again and again. You may be bored to bits but your baby will listen enraptured as if hearing it for the first time. As a matter of fact, your toddler is learning the song from you. He is beginning to associate the tune with the words and after a few hundred repetitions; he will even be able to participate in the song. If you read a story book to your toddler over and over, he will pick up bits and pieces along the way and very soon, he will be able to predict the end even before you get there. Yes, repeating things help toddlers remember new information. So talk and sing to your toddler as much as you can. It doesn’t matter that you are repeating the same thing again and again. Your toddler will be able to develop his speech and memory by this simple act of repetition.

Toddlers love to repeat things because it gives them a sense of victory at having mastered something. For instance, you may find your child stacking rings of different shapes in the correct order again and again. As far as he is concerned, getting it right the first time is an achievement. Once he has achieved the target, his next aim is to master it. He enjoys the task of becoming an expert at the art of stacking rings and the joy of completion gives him a thrill.

Routine may bore adults but as far as toddlers are concerned, a daily routine gives them a sense of security and predictability. They do not like uncertainty. They like to know what comes next. For instance, if you have established a daily bedtime routine of dinner, bath, story time and sleep, your child will know by the time you serve dinner that the next task will be to get ready for a bath. He will look forward to finishing his bath and going on to story time. Similarly, a morning routine of breakfast followed by sometime in the garden makes baby look forward to going to the garden after breakfast. Get your baby to participate in this routine by asking him what comes next. For instance, ask him what you are going to do after breakfast and answer "garden!" Soon he will pick up the basics and answer for himself.

Repetition is also a toddler’s way of building trust. He knows that you will be there to pick up his spoon for him every time he throws it down. He knows you will be there to feed him and help him go to sleep. In other words, although the act of repetition can be annoying to us adults, it is part and parcel of growing up. It helps build trust, relationships and skills in children.

Mark Perry

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