How to Handle Troublesome Toddlers
20th December 2015
You may have made it through the sleepless nights, the teething and the learning to walk stage of your baby’s life, but if you think the worse is behind you, then you might want to think again.
The toddler years can be somewhat challenging- they don’t call it the terrible twos for nothing! As your child continues to learn, they will no doubt misbehave as they push the boundaries and test you to see how much they can get away with.
When this time comes, it’s advisable to be as prepared as possible, so you know how to handle each situation that arises. The team at Tiny World have come up with five helpful ways you can tackle your troublesome toddlers behaviour, head on!
Make yourself clear
Toddlers struggle with communication and it’s often easier for them to convey how they feel through bad behaviour than good. That’s why it’s so important for you to be clear and consistent when it comes to implementing rules of behaviour. It can be hard at times to remain persistent when it comes to enforcing the rules, but remember, if you let them off just once and allow them to stay up past bedtime, they will demand it again the next night.
Spell things out
If toddlers can’t predict what is going to happen next, they can often become unsettled and feel anxious as they don’t know what to expect. Speak aloud and go through things with your child, as you’re doing them. For instance, “Let’s get in the car now and put you in your car seat. Then we’re going to drive to Grandma’s house and see her for a bit”. Informing your child before things happen will help reduce their anxiety levels.
Keep your cool
It goes without saying that even if you have the most docile toddler, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll get through the toddler years completely tantrum-free, so it’s best to be prepared and ready for when they strike. When your child is screaming, shouting, kicking and throwing things, as easy as it is to respond by shouting and yelling back at them, this is the worst thing you could do. A toddler will not respond to this and it could get them worked up even more. The best way to handle the situation is to calmly stay with them until their tantrum has passed.
Offer limited choices
It is common for tantrums to occur when your child is given too much choice. For example, give them two options to choose from for lunch, rather than asking them generally what they want. This will give them a sense of independence and they will feel pleased with themselves, making them far more likely to cooperate with you.
Distraction
After a while, you will get to know your toddler’s behavioural patterns to the point where you will be able to tell when a tantrum is brewing. When this happens, distraction is the best antidote. Whether this involves giving them a toy to play with, switching on the TV, or singing together. Anything that will quickly take their focus away from what has upset or annoyed them in the first place.
With over 30 years of experience caring for children from as young as 6 weeks old, to 11 years years old, we create the perfect environment for you child to learn and grow. So for excellent toddler daycare throughout Nottingham and Mansfield, please get in touch with the friendly team here at Tiny World Day Nurseries.