Toddlers don't really mean to be making trouble, they spend their days trying to understand and discover their environment, their place and space in the world. They are growing and learning how to coordinate their bodies and regulate impulses. Just about every day, toddlers make mistakes, they create messes and do things that are sometimes hard for us parents to comprehend and then - gasp - they do it all over again!
Often, it's hard to know how to best handle the messy, sassy, yucky situations. Time outs are so popular in the toddler years, yet just placing a toddler in the corner or on a naughty chair is unlikely to prevent a re-occurrence as toddlers will not really learn by pouting all alone, in fact they might feel upset, confused and anxious.
Here are 11 ways you can help toddlers better navigate their world and keep safe:
1. Meet your toddlers needs: If you notice your little one is getting restless or cranky it can be useful to run a mental check list; are they hungry, tired, bored, in need of a diaper change? Meeting that immediate need will likely bring everyone back into harmony. Don't worry, it doesn't spoil your toddler to meet their needs.
2. Provide a toddler friendly environment: If you find yourself repeatedly asking your child not to touch the ceramic kitty, not touch the glass vase on the floor and not climb the plant stand, think about stowing it away temporarily or placing it out of reach. For both tot and parents being able to navigate a child friendly home takes away hours of hassle and potential struggles.
3. Create and keep a routine: Toddlers love repetition. A predictable day helps toddlers know what to expect and learn the family expectations. Routines also help toddlers feel more in control of their world. Allowing some flexibility in the routine can also be helpful, for example if you usually dress and then brush teeth but your toddler doesn't seem to want to get dressed one morning, why not offer the option to brush and then dress.
4. Hugs & Cuddles: Often a toddler will calm down and refocus her attention with a gentle touch, hug and when you show a genuine smile. This positive attention tells a toddler that you care about them.
5. Change locations: Maybe the playroom has become overwhelming, maybe the living room is boring, sometimes moving locations just gives a toddler and parent a new perspective and a chance to engage in a different activity.
6. Read together: Books with gentle messages like "Hands Are Not For Hitting" can be great ways for toddlers to learn acceptable social skills. Books about feelings like "The Pigeon Has Feelings Too" and "Lots of Feelings" can help toddlers start to name and recognize feelings which helps further develop emotional intelligence.
7. Walk and then Talk: If you observe your child ready to strike at another child or ready to pull all the books down from a shelf, instead of telling or yelling for toddler to stop, walk over, (ok you might need to run) look the toddler in the eye and offer them something else to play with. Being pro-active and preventing strikes and bites is vastly more effective than punishing in reaction to something that could have been prevented.
8. Whisper: If your toddler is playing with their voice and exploring sounds and it has become just too loud for you, whispering is a great way to get your toddlers attention. Children often are so surprised and curious they might even follow you in whispering.
9. Special Time: Having a special time in the day to cuddle and play with your toddler is a powerful way to keep a strong connection with your tot. Placing cellphones away, and turning off the tv and computer and focusing just on the one on one time for just ten to fifteen minutes a day means the world to a child. The more connected a toddler feels the more likely she will be to listen and cooperate throughout the day.
10. Demonstrate: Show your tot where or how your family likes to do things. Lets say your toddler has thrown gobs of play-dough onto the carpet and that is not something you would like to see at your house. Start cleaning up and invite your child to help. Then play with your tot with the play-dough where she may do it, at a small table for example. Reinforcing with simple words "play-dough stays on the table" helps toddlers remember what is expected.
11. Support curiosity: Often toddlers tinker with household items to figure out what they are and how they work but it leads to thing being broken. Having some safe household items for your tot to explore in a busy basket or designated toddler drawer like an old telephone, a kitchen colander, measuring cups, can safely satisfy this curiosity. Rotate the items found in these locations to keep it interesting.
By implementing these alternatives you are building a very special bond with your child - a connection that lasts a life time. According to Dr. Sears: Connected children know what behavior parents expect and make an effort to behave this way because they want to please their parents. If it feels like your toddler is taking over the house or over your life because of these adjustments, take heart, much like the need for safety gates and outlet covers this phase is temporary and fleeting.
Do you or have you used time out for your toddler? Can you see yourself implementing any of these alternatives? Which ones might you try?
Peace & Be Well.
No comments:
Post a Comment