5 Tips to Manage Toddlers
A baby is a bundle of joy; you feel an immense sense of satisfaction and happiness when you hold one in your arms, watch them smile, and nurture them through the years. But then along the way comes the terrible twos and threes, the age when your kids are able to run around the house and develop minds of their own. Some toddlers are angelic no doubt, but then, these rare specimens always belong to people you know and not you. If you’re a mom who’s child is on the verge of toddling into their toddler years, here are a few tips that will come in handy.
- Activity: Some kids are shy and keep to themselves and their books. They’re easily manageable because they don’t trouble you too much and are happy with their toys and paraphernalia. But more often than not, your toddler will be active or even overactive, so you must find ways of managing their energy. Spend time with them outdoors where they can run and play and exhaust themselves. Cooped up kids get cranky and throw tantrums.
- Food: Toddlers are not known for eating everything you feed them. So you may have to cajole or con them into eating their vegetables and drinking their milk. By the time they’re three, they should be eating on their own. They may be slow and messy at first, but unless you persist with this strategy, they’re never going to learn to eat on their own and will need you around at every mealtime.
- Behavior: Most children misbehave as a way to seek attention; they feel that the adults are all preoccupied with their own stuff and that the only way to get them to notice them is to do something that they shouldn’t be doing. So if your toddler has been misbehaving a lot, spend more time doing things with them. You’re bound to see a change in their behavior soon. Also, don’t bargain with them and promise them treats if they’re good – this could backfire on you because they misbehave just so you will give them something they want.
- Relationship with other children: If your child has no siblings, he/she may be spoilt and not know how to interact with other children. They don’t know the meaning of sharing and are possessive about all their toys. If your child has no playmates, it’s best to take them to places where they can mingle with other kids their age, like parks and playgroups. This allows them to learn how to interact with people before they join kindergarten.
- Sleep: While you may think that sleep is most important for your toddler, he/she may have other ideas. For them, bedtime or naptime is playtime lost, and this is why most toddlers resent being put to bed. The best way to get them to go to bed quietly and without a fuss is to establish a routine that they like – read to them, get them to put on nightclothes that they’re fond of, sing to them, and so on. When you start the routine, they know what’s coming and accept it without a fuss.
The toddler years create wonderful memories for parents, memories that must not be tarnished by frustrated parents and sulky children. When you know how to manage your toddler, you avoid such a situation.