My niece, who's my elder sister's daughter, is almost two years old. She is the apple of our eye. Since she was born, our family has been enjoying very pleasant atmosphere. Unlike the little ones from other families, my niece is a very naughty girl and she's always busy walking here and there, seeing this or that, moreover, she's very hot tempered. Though she still can't say very long sentences now, she could understand whatever we say. When we say,"you are so beautiful", then she would smile with a little shyness, but when we say "you are so chubby and not beautiful", she would give us a stare and turn her ahead not to see us.

Recently, she gets a cold, maybe, the cold makes her uncomfortable, so she would lose her temper very easily. She would cry just for a very tiny thing and impolitely ignore others' words. Her recent behavoirs bring my sister a great headache and also offend my sister's bottom line. My sister would physically punish her, of course, the little one would cry, and then when she calm down, my sister would teach her a lesson. The little one is really scared of my sister, if she is going to do something unallowed, my sister would count from 1 to 3, and each time before 3, the little one would retreat and not do that thing. On the surface, I see that works for my niece, while, I also find that the baby would go back to her previous status later. So I don't think that's a good way to educate her. She inherently has some rebellious personality, physically punishment would only make us feel she submits on the surface, but in fact, she just does that in case of further punishment.   

I originally thought that the little child is simple and pure, and she wouldn't have very complex mind. While, my niece's behavoirs, words and facial expressions let me know she's starting to have her own awareness and thoughts, she could think and act very independently, just like we adults do. So this makes me feel more headache. Too strict words and physical punishiment would definitely hurts her inwardly, and it seems possible for her to memorize those unpleasant things. Today I have a online video through wechat with my mum, and when my niece see me, she just has a short glimpse of me and then does her own business, then her mom shouts at her and tells her to say hello to me, she just repeats her mother's words without looking at me, then her mother orders her to politely give me smile and look at me, then she does, but I could sense her unwillingness. Later, I try to talk to her in a kind and funny tone, and try to say something to cause her attention, I find she becomes happy and also would like to have an interaction with me. Maybe, like we adults, little babies are also resistent to be shouted at, or to be threatened.

What I find amusing is my mother's change. When my niece was much younger, my mother would find all kinds of excuses to protect my niece from her mother's criticize or little punishments, sometimes, she would even have a terrible quarrel with my sister or criticize about her in turn just for my niece's matters. While, now she firmly chooses to stand by my sister, so it's not uncommon to see her shout at the baby. I find it's really interesting.

For my niece's education, I think I will persuade my sister not behave that strictly. Maybe, kind words, patient explainations and more encouragements would work much better than negative words like"don't do that". Anyway, I hope my little niece could grow up happily and freely.