Jun 22, 2011
7b1926c8-f2dd-4a42-8e21-ab5f2ecc78be|2|4.0
Holy cow, did I just see my future teenager flash before my eyes? What am I doing wrong? Why won't my toddler listen to me? I hope your toddler isn’t anything like the majority I've dealt with --the hitting, the biting, the no's, and the full blown tantrum that makes everyone else around you stop and stare.
We've been through it, so welcome to the club! There are a few ways you can effectively discipline your toddler.
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Give choices: We know your little control freak wants to do everything themselves so give them a choice and limit the choices. Ask your toddler things like, "Which cup would you like?" or, "The dinosaur pajamas or the cars?" Letting your toddler have some say gives them a sense of accomplishment and allows you to work together so you avoid any tantrums from the start.
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Pick your battle: Toddlers are going to do a lot of things, hitting the family pet may or may not be worth the time-out. Let's put it simply; don't sweat the small stuff.
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Time-ins: I have found with babies under two, they simply cannot understand a time-out yet. So instead of trying the time-out try comforting your child. Hold them, be quiet and give them some love-ins. Let them know what they did wrong though. This helps especially when out in public.
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Distraction: Much like a dog with a bone, toddlers are easily distracted. It's not hard to come up with some distraction before they blow.
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Don't set yourself up to fail: Take it from me, I've learned the hard way. Grocery shopping with a tired or hungry toddler is brutal. Plan around naptimes and lunch; don't set yourself up to fail.
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Toddler Talk: Listen to your toddler and show them that she/he has a voice. If "Brooklin mad" or "Brooklin sad," I repeat it back so she knows she is heard. Toddlers want to be heard and seen.
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Stop the No-No's: Your toddler learned that lovely word from you so just as much as you dislike hearing it, so does your toddler. You couldn't help but screech, “NO.” when your toddler dumped his juice on your new rug, or as he happily splashes in the toilet, but you can use other words. Try replacing “no” with "sure, after you..." or "I'd love to, but let’s do...." Getting your toddler involved and making her think it's her idea is one of the best ways to effectively work together.
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Be consistent: We won't rat you out for your Lifetime movie marathon, but if your toddler wants to watch TV for hours and you say one show, you better be firm. Soon it'll be commonplace.
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Keep it short and sweet: Oh look, there's a birdie! Your toddler doesn't have such of an attention span. They're not teenagers who need things explained to them all the time. Keep discipline short and sweet.
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Let them see who's boss: If your toddler won't behave at a birthday party, or decides to chuck their snack in the store, he doesn’t get another one, or he leaves the party. You tell them once with a warning and if not heeded, follow through. Every time.
Always, always, always reward good behavior, and remember that toddlers are going to test you. The next time you're in the check out line and your toddler wants out of the cart knowing they're going to trash the place, just know.....you may never see these people again.
By Guest Blogger Kristin from Our Ordinary Life
