What's the secret?

As I observed many people working with toddlers in different settings, I noticed that successful teachers and parents seemed "tuned in" to the toddlers. They were able to pick up and expand upon what the children do naturally, building upon children's interests rather than constantly restricting and prohibiting them, while at the same time setting consistent and appropriate limits. They were not so much preoccupied with "teaching" children and cramming endless facts into their young heads as they were in sharing in child's joy of discovery. They encouraged, arbitrated, explained and demonstrated a knack for  providing just the right challenge to the young explorers.