Surprisingly, toddlers understand more about their learning than we think. They are intuitive about what is right and wrong, and their metacognition helps them analyze their understanding. They are smart little ones. Studies Show Infants Know More Than We Think Also surprising, "parents’ sensitivity to justice" play a role in how babies respond to what is good and bad. As do parents' ability to empathize. Nature, or nurture, or both? How Parents Influence Early Moral Development