When my children were young, I often asked myself if I was living with a two year old terror? The toddler years are by far the hardest time for all parents. It is challenging because this is the age at which children start to become more curious and develop as individuals. Yet they still have a limited ability to communicate and reason. Here are a few tips and trick to help you through this time:
Be Consistent. Order and routine give young children a safe haven from what they view as an overwhelming and unpredictable world. Predictability is important for a toddler because they feel comfortable with routine. If your toddler feels safe and not stressed out, it will make for a better behaved toddler.. Keeping the same schedule is key. That means having consistent nap times, mealtimes, and bedtimes as well as times when your toddler is free to just run around and have fun.
Consistency is necessary when it comes to discipline. When you say "no hitting" the first time your child smacks another child on the playground, you also need to say "no hitting" the second, third, and fourth time your child does it.
Avoid Stressful Situations. By the time your child becomes a toddler, you know what his/her triggers are. The most common ones are hunger, sleepiness, and quick changes of venue. Avoid these potential meltdown scenarios with a little advance planning. In other words, don't go to the mall when it is time for your toddler's nap.
Think Like a Toddler. Toddlers aren't mini-adults. Toddlers are still learning many of the things we already know like how to follow instructions or behave. Seeing the scenario from a toddler's perspective can help prevent a tantrum."You might say, 'I know, Derek, you don't like getting into the car seat. Learner says it is what we must do.. "Don't shelter but validate your toddler's feelings. Set the limit, but you do it in a way that respects the child. This will help them learn to cope with various frustrations.
Practice the Art of Distraction. Make your toddler's short attention span work for you. When your child continues with bad behavior, it's pretty easy to redirect your child to another activity, like a new game or something outside.
With these simple tips and some planning, you can eliminate a lot of the toddler tantrums and make these months more comfortable.
The toddler years are the hardest. I know this because I have two kids. I am Samantha Knowles and I want to tell you how to make this time better. Check out this great product: Talking To Toddlers . Also check out The Truth About Fat Burning Foods
