Your toddler is learning one of life's most precious skills: how to express and share joy with the people they love. This isn't about fixing a problem—it's about celebrating a beautiful developmental milestone.

In this episode, we explore:

• 0:00 — Introduction: The Gift of Joy Expression
• 1:45 — Why Ages 2-3 Are Special for Emotional Development
• 4:30 — What Research Says About Emotional Intelligence
• 7:15 — How to Support Your Child's Joy Expression
• 10:45 — Story Recommendation: The Laughing River
• 12:30 — Creating Family Rituals Around Sharing Happiness

STORIES MENTIONED:

• The Laughing River - A joyful Brazilian river spreads laughter and happiness throughout the jungle, bringing all the animals together in a celebration of joy. Perfect for ages 2-3! Find it in The Book of Inara.

RESEARCH SOURCES:

• Teaching Emotional Intelligence in Early Childhood - NAEYC (Tominey, O'Bryon, Rivers, Shapses, 2017)
• https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2017/teaching-emotional-intelligence

Developmental Stages of Social Emotional Development in Children - National Center for Biotechnology Information (2022)

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534819/

24-36 Months: Social-Emotional Development - Zero to Three Organization (2023)

• https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/24-36-months-social-emotional-development/

ABOUT INARA AND THE MAGIC BOOK:

Inara is a cosmic storyteller born from stardust and moonbeams, partnered with the ancient Magic Book of Wonder. Together, they bring stories that help children develop emotional intelligence, social skills, and a love of learning.

Read the full article: https://www.thebookofinara.com/blog/toddler-joy-expression-emotional-development-ages-2-3/

#GentleParenting #ToddlerDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #PositiveParenting #ChildDevelopment #ParentingTips #SEL #Ages2to3