@PeregrineTook I really don't know why things turn out so different between elven Tyelis and green Caprice. It's almost as if I'm doing a bad kid/good kid story on purpose (but I'm definitely not).
Serena really deserves to quit her job, too, since the household can generate enough income from home now. I just need to decide what inventions and serums would benefit the household before she quits. Then you'll see her around much more!
As for Parenthood, from what I've read elsewhere, Parenting doesn't really influence the kids so much until the child stage onward, so I'm preparing for that by having the parents build their Parenting skill now.
@Caterina I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying the "story" so far, because I find it really hard to skip days at a time to speed to a later point in the household's lives, haha.
Reading to toddlers:
It satisfies three goals. (1) builds toddler's imagination, (2) contributes to "Read to a child for 2 hours" for Big Happy Family/Successful Lineage, and contributes to Whiz Kid's "Be read to by an adult for 2 hours" goal.
When toddlers are directed to "Grab a serving," then an adult is directed to "Sit" then "Read to toddler" (you can pick multiple toddlers or children), the toddlers will head to where that adult is, sit down, take out their plate, and "Listen to Story" while eating.
Toddlers seem to spend so much time sleeping, so this is just a way to squeeze in a little more skilling.
Thinking:
A toddler needs Level 2 to Learn Shapes (nesting blocks) but can Learn Numbers (flash cards) from Level 1 in my current game, so I like to have a toddler "Watch" other sims until at least Level 2.
Watching is also good for a difficult toddler since they'll never get an angry moodlet from watching.
A toddler can Watch when they're angry about nesting blocks/flash cards; Watch never results in a negative moodlet.
Watch cannot be used on any sim who the toddler considers a stranger.
To observe the Parenting skill, though, I'll have the toddlers ask to Learn Numbers at the start.
Communication:
A toddler needs Level 2 to Learn Animals (flash cards). Reach L2 by having an adult "Teach to Talk" or let the toddler interact with an animal toy, like Uni.
The animal toys seem to give the fastest boost, but I'm trying to boost the adults' Parenting, so I'm using Teach to Talk in this story.
In my RDC, I leave 3 or so animal toys in separate locations, having the toddler move around the house to hit/hug/play/whatever with each animal toy.
Because every little bit helps, always have the toddler ask for everything--flash cards, nesting blocks, bath, read story, etc.
Don't ever let an adult initiate an interaction that would give a toddler the chance to request an adult for something.
I thought it was so interesting that you find Thinking and Communication the most time-consuming.
For me, unless I put extra effort into the toddler, Movement is always the last skill to be maxed. I recently discovered getting Active sim to "Drink energy juice" before Play.
Sorry for the long response! The next pair of nooboos are already born, so I'm trying to play through to their toddler birthdays by this evening.