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 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 ourreactions 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 that will lay 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
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 tantrum meltdown! Discover tips to help you keep your sanity and avoid the daily battle of wills... 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>>
What can you do to stop toddler biting and create healthy boundaries without losing your cool? Read more>>
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.
- 1. Speak harshly to a toddler and you'll rear a child who uses hurtful words.
2. Use physical force or punishment with a toddler and you'll rear a child who uses aggression or power over others to communicate his needs.
3. Refuse to acknowledge a toddler's thoughts and feelings and you'll rear a child who lacks the insight to consider other's thoughts and feelings.
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!
