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Being a parent is hard, no doubt. But when you’re parents of a toddler, the challenges you face are crucial because those are the most formative years of your child. It’s essential to discipline your kid from when they are babies who can start to understand the things you do. Most parents take it for granted that their kids are too young to be taught values, mannerisms, and behaviors that it becomes too late sometimes to discipline your children after they grow up. When your kids are around 1 to 3 years old, they are adorable, sweet, and innocent. But they can be very destructive and unruly, even if they don’t mean to. Therefore, learn that it is essential to teach your toddler right from wrong and start early. Here are a few tips for disciplining your toddler:
1. Set Realistic Expectations For Your Toddler
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Knowing the developmental milestones of your toddler is very important. Your 1-year-old toddler cannot sit up straight for too long or run around. Meanwhile, your 3-year-old toddler cannot clean up after herself if she makes a mess. Therefore, knowing what your toddler can and cannot do will help you gauge your disciplinary methods towards them. As your child grows up, you could increase your expectation and see what methods work best for them.
2. Be Affirmative When Required
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Your child observes your behavior and learns from it. When your toddler makes a mistake, ensure that you are stern and firm when you tell them it’s wrong. Make it known to them that if they continue to do it, there will be consequences. Be confident and authoritative when you reprimand their lousy behavior. Explain to them why it’s wrong and tell them what to do instead.
3. Don’t Hesitate To Reason With Them
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As your toddler grows up, they begin to understand languages better and express themselves. Therefore, instead of outright saying “no” or “because I told you so”, reason with them, so they understand why it’s wrong to behave a certain way. It might help your kid understand feelings, emotions, and the consequences of their actions. Constantly restricting them without giving them a valid explanation can make them fearful, angry, or even rebellious.
4. Behaviors You Might Want To Actively Ignore
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Many toddlers misbehave to gain attention. By giving them attention when they do something wrong, you are inadvertently encouraging them to continue doing it. Therefore, when you recognize such behavior, you could choose to ignore it. Allow them to throw tantrums, and eventually, they will realize that it does not bring them any attention. This technique might not work for all behaviors or situations but pick your moments, and you’ll be good to go.
5. Establish A Pattern Of Reflective Discipline
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Patiently sit down with your toddler and talk to them. Encourage them to share their feelings and reflect on their behavior. Not only does this establish a connection between you and your kid, but it also helps them assess and think about their actions positively and calmly.
6. Reward Your Child’s Good Behavior
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You must reprimand your kids for wrong behavior, but it is equally important to reward their good behavior. A simple appreciation or a few words of praise can go a long way when it comes to your child. However, do not make it a habit to spoil your child with goodies, gifts, and expensive rewards as it could result in a negative rewarding technique.
7. Set A Good Example
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Probably one of the most important and influential ways to discipline your child is by setting the right example. They learn from you by observing what you do, not what you teach them. Actions speak louder than words. Therefore, be a role model for your child so they can follow suit.
It might be difficult to discipline toddlers because they are full of energy and excitement. Most of them don’t know if what they are doing is wrong or right. Therefore, it’s up to you to ensure that they learn the correct values and grow up to be an asset to society. What techniques do you use to discipline your child? If you agree with our tips, share it with your fellow parents and help them out.
