Tips for disciplining toddlers
A young child between the ages of one and three is a toddler who is in the process of communicating and learning and exploring the world around him. This stage is full of transitions and the toddler is ever adapting to his environment. He is in the process of discovering himself and has limited control on his actions and thinking. He becomes assertive, independent, whilst throwing tantrums at the drop of a hat. Punishment is not the solution for such toddlers. Discipline is not punishment but correction of an unacceptable behavior using certain techniques to encourage good behavior. Listed below are a few techniques to discipline your bubbly toddler:
1. Stay calm and ignore the behavior
When you are out in public and your toddler wails at the top of his lungs, it does invite stares. However hard you may find it, avoid spanking or yelling at the kid. Try ignoring his behavior and stay calm. He will cry a lot less if he realizes his behavior is not getting any attention from you. You may have to withstand his yelling for sometime, but it will eventually subside. Reacting to the situation worsens since the toddler senses that you are getting affected by his behavior.
2. Be consistent
Kids, in general, do not like surprises. Establish a routine, be it for waking up on time, eating, playing, or reading. They appreciate things that happen regularly in a scheduled manner. They feel comfortable when they know what to expect. Sometimes, routines do go off-schedule, with a visitor at home, illness of a family member, or unscheduled visit to a doctor and so on. In such situations, it is better to prepare the toddler mentally, in advance. Explain the situation patiently and clearly for your kid to understand and anticipate.
3. Avoid anxious moments
Stay away from situations that can annoy and upset your toddler. Understand his needs and plan accordingly. Getting accustomed to a new environment, hunger, sleeplessness, etc. can easily irritate your toddler. As long as his basic needs are taken care of, he should settle down peacefully. When you step out, always carry food, wipes, diapers, and other basic things that can keep him clean and happy. Carry toys and books when visiting a doctor or any other environment that he is not used to. These will keep him happily occupied. Also, give him enough opportunities to choose, such as an egg or cereals for breakfast.
4. Accommodate as required
Sometimes, setting rules do not always work with toddlers. They are playful and sometimes do tend to forget the rules. Use discretion and know when to accommodate to your toddler's demands. It is OK to give him that extra TV time when he helps you with a chore or let him read his favorite book six times in a row.
5. Empathize and help
Try to understand your toddler's reasons for his demands. A toddler's perception of things is entirely different from ours. Many things, which we normally take for granted are quite a big deal for the toddlers. If he is adamant on not putting back his toys, there is no point in a power struggle. You can still win half the battle by offering him help to put back the toys in the box. This creates a win-win situation.
6. Divert attention
During stressful situations, it is wise to divert the attention of your toddler to something else which is productive. They have short attention span, which makes this work for you. When your toddler refuses to share his toy in a play date and gets agitated, divert his attention by reading him his favorite story.
7. Time-outs
When you do have to correct his unacceptable behavior, use very short time outs, say for a minute or two. Explain clearly why he is being sent away and how he can avoid time-outs in the future. Also, do not talk about his time-outs in front of his siblings, peers, or elders. It might mar his confidence and self esteem.
Finally, parenting is all about building a healthy relationship with your children and help them overcome their limits and difficulties. With discipline and understanding, you can breeze through their toddlerhood with ease.
