Essential Toddler Discipline Tips

Toddlers are a handful, trying to discipline them seems like a superhuman job at times. Tackling them on your own may be just too frustrating; you need to be well-prepared theoretically at least.

What they do is a perfectly natural process of testing their boundaries – for them, and they don’t understand how it can affect our nervous system. They only know they feel new possibilities which they are eager to explore.

Attempting to control a toddler is a really difficult task, but there’s no getting around it. Also, it’s important to try and stake out limits for them to show them that some behaviors won’t be tolerated – already they need to adjust to sociably accepted ways.

What can be of assistance to the mom of an active toddler?

Employ preventive thinking

Learn to think what can make your upcoming day fortunate. You want your little one to behave well – what environment would be suitable for this purpose? Start with dressing – get a good supply of easy-for-donning shirts and elastic-waist pants which could save you a lot of trouble. You know just how difficult dressing is and how much time you will need for it – give it ample time.

Now for play time: it also requires pre-planning. In anticipation of possible conflicts, see to it that there is a sufficient supply of toys, preferably in twos, and you have games and activities in store in case kids’ interest wanes.

The toddler is practically guaranteed to act up if they are tired and hungry – it’s up to you to see they are fed and rested before they get involved in play, especially in company.

Insist on consistency

No discipline can be effective without consistency. If parents find themselves unable to comply with their own rules and regulations, how can they expect that their children will be? So, once you have told the little one that bad behavior will lead to a timeout, you are under obligation to enforce the measure. You are not going to have any authority if you fail to follow up on your own warnings.

That’s how the children learn: watching their parents, therefore you want your behavior to be that of a perfect role model. The toddler sees it if your things are strewn about the room; if you want them to obey when you tell them to collect their toys, it would be better to have your own stuff tidy.

Get temptation out of the way

After a while you get to know what your youngster likes to – and is likely to – investigate. You can predict what could interest them – and if you consider it advisable, get these things hidden away. That will go for smartphones and other electronic devices. Also look out for small things that little children can stuff up their noses or swallow – it can be buttons, pieces of jewelry, coins.

Items like medicines and chemicals for cleaning must be certainly kept away from toddlers all the time.

Offer them choices

Since you are well aware that youngsters are independence-minded, you can offer them ways to voice their opinions and thereby express their selves. Ask them questions like “Do you want to drink from the cup with a rabbit or from the cup with Mickey Mouse?” “We are going to the park; do you like to go in the stroller or in the wagon?” Make them feel important choice-makers.

Introduce timeouts

When you feel your toddler needs stricter measures, think of introducing timeouts. For a little individual of two or three years of age who is given to biting, kicking, throwing food, and doing other reprehensible things, it would be helpful to be told that all this is intolerable and sent to a place suitable for a timeout, like a remote chair or a rarely used staircase, to sit it out for a few minutes and pipe down.

Timeouts shouldn’t be long – usually, a minute for the kid’s every year should be enough, increase in time doesn’t necessarily add to the punishment. Also, you don’t want your kid to take a rebellious attitude and quit the place before you let them do so.

The place where you send the toddler away ought to be devoid of toys, screens and other distractions, and you are not meant to display attention to the kid and make eye contact with them.

Explain clearly what is going to follow misbehavioYou want your youngster to obey the rules? In order to do that they have to know them well. Fix their eye, offer simple explanations and watch them nod in response. Use the word “I” if you know they are eager to please, like: “I’m afraid you may hurt yourself; please don’t dash about so.”

Be explicit about the consequences of disobedience. Explain that people paint on paper, not on the furniture, so if the furniture gets spotted, the paints will be taken away.

Keep an eye on them

This piece of advice is actually closely related to the task of disciplining: since it’s up to you to teach the child to behave, you are supposed to be aware of potential problems. Tell them beforehand how to act in every particular case: “I understand you would like to swing, but it is occupied right now; think of what else you want to do.” Watching the toddler gives you precious information about when they are most likely to flare up and how can you tackle the situation.

Be free with praise

The child of two and more is egocentric enough, yet he is still eager to please. If he obeyed at once, it makes for a great opportunity to give him praise, thereby impressing on him what behavior is appreciated, as well as bringing the two of you closer together. You know children thrive on parents’ attention; make sure your positive attention goes with their good behavior.

Stay calm and collected

Whenever your youngster blows his temper, you would do well to remain as calm as you can. Your angry outburst will only aggravate the situation. Your kid will understand at once that the parent is nearing the edge, and it will go to push them into frustration even further. Look into the matter: maybe your little one needs to be comforted, and the situation will be resolved quickly.

Kids do require a lot of attention, and sometimes the quickest way to make the parents to take notice is to act up. Show that this kind of behavior doesn’t serve its purpose. Stay alert and at the ready, but ignore the outburst you don’t like.

This is a bit tricky, because before the infant finally calms down, he is likely to put more pressure on you. It can certainly push you over the edge, but it is a sign that your ignoring attitude is registering. After several failed attempts to gain your attention the child may eventually arrive at the conclusion that such behavior is not working, and come off it.

This doesn’t apply to tantrums during which the toddler might be apt to hurt someone (or themselves) – then ignoring the outburst won’t do. The kid must be taken away to a spot where they would be able to wind down and avoid aggressive confrontations or possible danger.

With some infants it is very difficult to check themselves and calm down. In this case say something like: “Let’s try and cool down together.”

Anyway, even if you aren’t succeeding very well, don’t think of yielding to the infant. By doing this you show them that they can get the better of you by throwing tantrums, and it will only be getting worse. Make the child regain control of themselves and praise them for it. This is teaching and this leaves you in control.

When they have grown older and are more able to express their feelings in words, children will be better at dealing with frustration and their behavior won’t be so outrageous. Should temper flareouts continue, you may be willing to consult a specialist about the best way of tackling tantrums.
Avoid using “no” when you can

When handling children, emphasize the positive rather than the negative. Your first instinct may prompt you to say „Don’t yell“; go for „Please say it again quietly“ said in a low voice. There will be instances when a sharp „no“ followed by an instant reaction would be the best way to straighten a dangerous situation; but apart from that try not to use „no“ when you can express your wish in a positive way.