Parenting Toddlers
Toddlerhood is an amazing time in child development. Young minds are brimming with creativity. Bodies are aching for movement, and emotions are begging to be expressed. Parenting toddlers can also be the most exhausting time in parenthood.
Toddlers can be loud, boisterous, erratic, funny, messy, witty and smart all at the same time. They soak up everything they see and hear, and that includes our
reactions to their actions.
They sense our moods, discover new abilities, and move back and forth between states of autonomy and needing to be connected to us.
Toddlers are learning about their emotions too. The focus on emotional learning is the greatest between the ages of zero and four.
During this time, toddlers operate primarily from the emotional center of their brains and need to be attached to a loving, supportive adult in order to develop the emotional and social competency and trust. This is the foundation for all future learning.
If you can remember just three important rules about toddlerhood - it may make your go of it a little bit easier.
So, remember:
toddlers just wanna have fun
toddlers just wanna feel love
toddlers just wanna be understood
Common Toddler Parenting Challenges
Secrets of Toddler Aggression Loose limbs and aggression tends to peak during the toddler years. Learning to control the impulses does not just happen after one or two reminders and a time-out. Try this instead... Read more >>
My Child Won't Stop Hitting The Cat Development is a much more complex and longer learning process than you may think. Here are some ideas for getting through it with grace when your toddler is hitting the family pet... Read more >>
When Your Toddler Wants to Give Back the New Baby Adjusting to a new sibling can be especially difficult for toddlers and preschoolers. Here are five tips to ease the transition to new siblings with less frustration... Read more >>
Handling Temper Tantrums Oh, how I love when you thrash around on the floor simply because I asked you to put on your socks. Temper tantrums are a normal, healthy response to emotions your toddler can't yet express... Read more >>
Avoid The Tantrums! Discover tips to help you keep your sanity and avoid the daily battle of wills... Read more >>
Public Meltdowns can be so embarrassing. Take heart, they happen to us all. Here are some tips for handling the stares and helping your child get back on track... Read more >>
Sharing means, "Give It Back, It's MINE!" Toddlers don't need to "learn" to share despite what you may think. This is a skill that will be developed, but your child needs to do this first... Read more >>
Ouch! That Hurts. Biting What's the deal? Why do kids love to sink their teeth into flesh? Is it normal? Will it ever stop? Should it be punished? Read more >>
Stop Toddler Biting and create healthy boundaries without losing your cool? Read more>>
Stop Throwing The Food! A favorite toddler past-time is playing with their food. It's developmentally typical and also can be a #1 trigger for parents.
Read this to find out how you might be impeding your child's ability to STOP throwing food, and what you can do instead... Read more >>
Toddler Development
Toddler Development - Brain Science. What is going on inside your toddler's growing brain? What does typical behavior look like?
If you have ever been mystified by your young child's actions, then delve into the brain as we uncover what exactly is going on during those meltdowns. Read more >>
Toddlers are at a delicate point in their development. Their attitudes, self-esteem and belief systems are all taking shape based on what they see and hear.
Protecting their self-worth is imperative.
Here are a few things to remember when parenting your toddler.
- 1. Speak harshly to a toddler and, you'll raise a child who uses hurtful words.
2. Use physical force or punishment with a toddler and you'll raise a child who relies on aggression and control to communicate his needs.
3. Refuse to acknowledge a toddler's thoughts and feelings and you'll raise a child who lacks the ability to consider the thoughts and feelings of others.
What do you think? I love hearing from you, so leave me a comment below. Share your stories, post your challenges and if you benefited from this article, consider sharing it with a friend!
