Guide sample

Toddler Guide

Preview the opening pages on the website before buying the downloadable PDF. The full guide includes 55 pages, printable tools, references and clear professional-help pathways.

Preview pages55 page PDF$15 AUDAustralian-focused
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First YearsToddler Guidesample

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Simple support for babies, toddlers & new parents

Toddler Guide

A practical, evidence-backed guide to big feelings, routines, behaviour, independence, toilet learning and everyday life from 1 to 5 years.

Fast help for hard moments

How this guide is organised

Designed for tired parents

You do not need to read this guide from front to back. If you are in the middle of a hard moment, go straight to the mini-plans, scripts, behaviour detective worksheet or parent reset plan.

If you needStart withUseful print page
A quick reset during a meltdownTantrum response plan and what to do in the momentCalm scripts sheet
Repeated daily battlesBehaviour detective worksheet, routines and transitionsWhat helped? tracker
Unsafe behaviourSafety non-negotiables and unsafe behaviour response planUnsafe behaviour plan
Toilet, food, sleep or screen strugglesTopic pages plus usually-normal tablesRoutine charts
Support beyond homeWhen to seek help, early supports and resourcesChildcare information sheet

Best first pages to print

  • Behaviour detective worksheet.
  • Tantrum response plan.
  • Morning and bedtime routine charts.
  • Transition plan.
  • Parent reset plan.
  • Usually normal vs seek help tables.

A First Years reminder

  • Behaviour is communication, not a character flaw.
  • Connection and boundaries belong together.
  • Safety limits are not optional.
  • Skills need repetition before they become reliable.
  • Asking for help early is a strength.

Support that fits real life

This guide is for many kinds of families

Adapt the idea, not the child

A strategy is only useful if it can fit your child, culture, home language, work pattern, support network, housing, budget and family safety. Use what helps and leave what does not fit.

Family contextWhat this guide means in practiceUseful adjustment
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander familiesConnection to family, kin, community, Country, culture and Elders can be part of a child's security and behaviour support.Ask for culturally safe local services where possible; keep trusted family routines and language strong.
Culturally diverse familiesFood, sleep, caregiving and discipline traditions vary. The aim is safety, connection and skill-building, not one Western-only routine.Keep family practices that are safe and supportive; adapt scripts into words that sound natural in your home.
Bilingual and multilingual familiesHome language is a strength. Behaviour support can use words, signs, gestures, visuals and stories in any language.Use the language you are most expressive in; seek advice if concerns appear across all languages.
Single parents, shift-working families and limited supportPerfect consistency is not realistic when one adult is carrying a lot.Choose one or two highest-impact routines, keep scripts short, and build a support map for hard days.
Neurodivergent children and children with developmental delay or disabilityThe same behaviour may reflect sensory needs, communication load, anxiety, pain, motor planning or a skill gap.Use visuals, predictable routines, sensory supports and professional input; judge progress by your child's baseline.
Parents who feel guilty or overwhelmedHard behaviour can bring up shame, anger and fear. You are allowed to need help too.Use the parent reset plan early, repair after hard moments and ask for support before things feel unsafe.

A kinder starting phrase

"This is hard because a need, skill, environment or feeling is too big right now. We can make the next step smaller."

Unlock the full PDF

The full guide includes 55 pages, printable tools including behaviour detective worksheet, routine charts, tantrum response plan, parent reset plan, trusted resource links and safety guidance. It is part of the First Years first 2000 days library.

Also available in bundles

Bundle options keep related guides together and reduce the total price.