Effective toddler discipline requires an understanding of why children between the ages of 1 and 3 behave like they do. Here are some useful things to know about managing your child:
Younger Toddlers Children under the age of two have no real understanding of the concept of right and wrong, no idea that aggressive behavior is hurtful (in both sense of the word) to others.
Don't bother placing an 18-month-old in Time Out - although removing him from other youngsters temporarily is acceptable. He won't understand why you've done it, but it may diffuse some tension.
Limited Language Most carers of preschool children can tell you that tantrums start tailing off once the child can express themselves better. Many toddler outbursts are the result of frustration through insufficient vocabulary. Ever been abroad and struggled to talk in a foreign language? That's how young children feel - every day.
"No!" is a minefield. You can't even be sure that your toddler knows what he is saying. My son used to say 'No' and 'Don't' incessantly, before changing his mind during the following sentence.
Repetition Does your little one drive you crazy with this? Take a deep breath - he is only doing what is natural, i.e. practising. No learner driver ever mastered parallel parking in one lesson, - it's no different for toddlers and speaking.
Attention Seeking When parents and carers misunderstand attention seeking, they only make the situation worse. Every young child craves more attention than any adult can possibly provide. The good news is that attention seeking can be minimised with a little preparation and the right handling.
Summary: Dealing with toddler discipline problems is impossible without an understanding of toddler development Young children are motivated by a narrow range of factors, and keeping them in mind will help you deal more better with tantrums and so on.
Younger Toddlers Children under the age of two have no real understanding of the concept of right and wrong, no idea that aggressive behavior is hurtful (in both sense of the word) to others.
Don't bother placing an 18-month-old in Time Out - although removing him from other youngsters temporarily is acceptable. He won't understand why you've done it, but it may diffuse some tension.
Limited Language Most carers of preschool children can tell you that tantrums start tailing off once the child can express themselves better. Many toddler outbursts are the result of frustration through insufficient vocabulary. Ever been abroad and struggled to talk in a foreign language? That's how young children feel - every day.
"No!" is a minefield. You can't even be sure that your toddler knows what he is saying. My son used to say 'No' and 'Don't' incessantly, before changing his mind during the following sentence.
Repetition Does your little one drive you crazy with this? Take a deep breath - he is only doing what is natural, i.e. practising. No learner driver ever mastered parallel parking in one lesson, - it's no different for toddlers and speaking.
Attention Seeking When parents and carers misunderstand attention seeking, they only make the situation worse. Every young child craves more attention than any adult can possibly provide. The good news is that attention seeking can be minimised with a little preparation and the right handling.
Summary: Dealing with toddler discipline problems is impossible without an understanding of toddler development Young children are motivated by a narrow range of factors, and keeping them in mind will help you deal more better with tantrums and so on.
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