Are you a parent of a toddler? Improve toddler-parent relationship and learn about the ways that will help you to raise your toddler the right way. Parenting a toddler requires two most essential virtues – patience and understanding, both in great amounts. Toddlers can get extremely difficult to deal with at times, and life may seem frustrating for the toddler and the parent alike. For you, it is the misbehaviour and the intermittent tantrums that drive you crazy, and from the point of view of the toddler, it is the frustration of the ‘world’ refusing to understand his objective and desires. But as the onus of ensuring that the child grows up into a healthy individual, both physically and mentally, you need to take note of the fact that you must show a great deal of maturity while dealing with toddlers. After all, you too were in that age in some stage of your life, and today you are evolved as a responsible parent. So bring that experience and maturity into play as you understand the ‘world’ from the toddler’s perspective. You will be happy to find that most difficulties vanish with just a little effort! In this articleShow Affection as Much as PossibleAccept the Toddler For Who He IsAdopt a Lenient Approach, Relax RulesEnforce ConsequencesTips for Parenting Toddlers Given below are some simple tips that will help you in parenting a toddler the right way. Show Affection as Much as Possible Give your toddler the positive attention that he deserves. Kids are special and they demand and deserve a great deal of positive attention from their parents especially. Display your affection in the course of the regular activities of the kid. Give a friendly pat, a reassuring hug and dollops of kisses so as to assure them that you are there for them, always. They need to feel reassured every now and then as this is the stage when they are the most vulnerable. If you pay attention and praise your kid frequently, you will be glad to notice that the kid listens to your directives out of love. He will feel motivated to follow your rules. Accept the Toddler For Who He Is This is important. The kid is in the stage of self-discovery and also understanding the world in the process. So he is in the stage of the development of his own personality and individuality. As a parent it is your responsibility to aid the toddler in developing the same. The error that most parents make is that they expect and direct their kids to behave and be like them. This is a wrong approach; as more often than not you will find that the toddler grows defiant and subsequently the parent finds the toddler to be a difficult one. You must respect the kid as an individual and not impose yourself on him. Allow the kid to express himself as an individual and then, it is up to you on how you correct his approach as required. Such an approach will help grow with self confidence as well. So, the first aspect is to let the toddler be, and accept him as he is. Adopt a Lenient Approach, Relax Rules Allow the toddler to develop in a relaxed and healthy atmosphere, where he can express himself with ease and enjoy the joys of childhood. Do not overload the child with a set of heavy-duty rules. It is a wrong notion that strict rules will help in disciplining the child. Rather, you will find that austere rules only makes a toddler defiant and he wishes to revolt with utter disregard. Whereas, if the child finds that he is free to speak his mind and act with freedom, he will be more receptive to what you have to say. Enforce Consequences This is a great way to teach the kid the importance of being responsible for his act and going through the follow-through of the same. If you feel that certain act must not be done, and the toddler is hell bent on doing it. Then allow him to do it to an extent that he is not majorly harmed by the action. Then once he sees that the effect of his action is not as desired, he will automatically realise that this is not an appropriate action. In future, he will be more ready to follow your directives and side-by-side also understand that one needs to be accountable for one’s action. This will teach him to own up responsibility. Finally, you also need to ensure that all such situations that provoke a tantrum or a difficult behaviour are avoided as much as possible. Remember, you are the best teacher to your toddler, so make sure that you follow the rules that you want to endorse and follow them strictly yourself. It is up to you on how you set the limits and when you need to put your foot down and say a ‘No’. With some of these tips, you will find that the kid is becoming gradually inclined to listen and become obedient and responsible.
Are you a parent of a toddler? Improve toddler-parent relationship and learn about the ways that will help you to raise your toddler the right way. Parenting a toddler requires two most essential virtues – patience and understanding, both in great amounts. Toddlers can get extremely difficult to deal with at times, and life may seem frustrating for the toddler and the parent alike. For you, it is the misbehaviour and the intermittent tantrums that drive you crazy, and from the point of view of the
toddler, it is the frustration of the ‘world’ refusing to understand his objective and desires. But as the onus of ensuring that the child grows up into a healthy individual, both physically and mentally, you need to take note of the fact that you must show a great deal of maturity while dealing with toddlers.
After all, you too were in that age in some stage of your life, and today you are evolved as a responsible parent. So bring that experience and maturity into play as you understand the ‘world’ from the toddler’s perspective. You will be happy to find that most difficulties vanish with just a little effort!
Tips for Parenting Toddlers
Given below are some simple tips that will help you in parenting a toddler the right way.
Show Affection as Much as Possible
Give your toddler the positive attention that he deserves. Kids are special and they demand and deserve a great deal of positive attention from their parents especially. Display your affection in the course of the regular activities of the kid. Give a friendly pat, a reassuring hug and dollops of kisses so as to assure them that you are there for them, always. They need to feel reassured every now and then as this is the stage when they are the most vulnerable. If you pay attention and praise your kid frequently, you will be glad to notice that the kid listens to your directives out of love. He will feel motivated to follow your rules.
Accept the Toddler For Who He Is
This is important. The kid is in the stage of self-discovery and also understanding the world in the process. So he is in the stage of the development of his own personality and individuality. As a parent it is your responsibility to aid the toddler in developing the same.
The error that most parents make is that they expect and direct their kids to behave and be like them. This is a wrong approach; as more often than not you will find that the toddler grows defiant and subsequently the parent finds the toddler to be a difficult one. You must respect the kid as an individual and not impose yourself on him. Allow the kid to express himself as an individual and then, it is up to you on how you correct his approach as required. Such an approach will help grow with self confidence as well. So, the first aspect is to let the toddler be, and accept him as he is.
Adopt a Lenient Approach, Relax Rules
Allow the toddler to develop in a relaxed and healthy atmosphere, where he can express himself with ease and enjoy the joys of childhood. Do not overload the child with a set of heavy-duty rules. It is a wrong notion that strict rules will help in disciplining the child. Rather, you will find that austere rules only makes a toddler defiant and he wishes to revolt with utter disregard. Whereas, if the child finds that he is free to speak his mind and act with freedom, he will be more receptive to what you have to say.
Enforce Consequences
This is a great way to teach the kid the importance of being responsible for his act and going through the follow-through of the same. If you feel that certain act must not be done, and the toddler is hell bent on doing it. Then allow him to do it to an extent that he is not majorly harmed by the action. Then once he sees that the effect of his action is not as desired, he will automatically realise that this is not an appropriate action. In future, he will be more ready to follow your directives and side-by-side also understand that one needs to be accountable for one’s action. This will teach him to own up responsibility.
Finally, you also need to ensure that all such situations that provoke a tantrum or a difficult behaviour are avoided as much as possible. Remember, you are the best teacher to your toddler, so make sure that you follow the rules that you want to endorse and follow them strictly yourself. It is up to you on how you set the limits and when you need to put your foot down and say a ‘No’. With some of these tips, you will find that the kid is becoming gradually inclined to listen and become obedient and responsible.
