March 8, 2022

Toddlers are Egomaniacs– and Here's Why

Toddlers are Egomaniacs– and Here's Why

Why are toddlers so egocentric? They really don’t get that others may have thoughts and feelings that differ from theirs. Particularly when it comes to it being bedtime. Here’s how to deal with bossy toddler behavior without encouraging it.


Little kids may be cute, but boy, are they self-centered. Turns out that’s how they’re wired: the egocentrism of toddlers gives them confidence to explore and express themselves. But it also can make them a tad inflexible about points of view that might differ from their own. 

In this episode, we discuss: 

  • A theory as to why little kids may be terrible at hiding
  • Where experts agree (and disagree) on what causes kids’ egocentric behavior 
  • How to deal with the tiny egocentrists that we live with 


Experts tend to agree that by the ages of 5 or 6, most children understand and take into consideration the feelings of others. So hang on: you’re going to have a real group thinker by first grade. 

Here are links to some writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode: 

Being the Parent: Understanding Egocentrism in Children

Scholastic: Must-Have Books to Teach Social-Emotional Skills

The Conversation: Young children are terrible at hiding– psychologists have a new theory why


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