Toddler Time in the Terrific Twos continued...

4. Watch for your child’s signals that he is hungry, lonely, tired, needs to be changed, or frustrated and try to avoid those times by anticipating them in advance and circumventing them with fewer errands, healthy snacks, respecting nap time as necessary for your child to rejuvenate herself.

5. Avoid “stimulation overload”, which translates into doing too much or being exposed to too much visual and/or auditory stimulation, so your child has to let out the extra stimuli in the form of a tantrum, screaming or other behaviors that are telling you you’ve pushed your child too much and he or she needs a quiet break.

6. Incorporate time outs into your family routine. You can all take them when you’re too emotional to react kindly or gently. Go sit someplace, figure out what’s bothering you, and how you want to handle it differently. Then exit out, go back to your family, and share what you’ve figured out with them. You’ll be able to enjoy each other again. Anyone can ask anyone else to please take a time out so you can have a pleasant time together. It’s not punishment, it’s meant to be a time you can cool out/calm down, by yourself, and come back with a different, lighter attitude.

7. Toddlers and two year olds are incredibly curious small human beings. Their brains are firing off connections at an incredible rate. They are led by their curiosity – don’t squelch it, it’s the way they learn. Encourage your child’s explorations in safe ways. Marvel at the way your child’s mind works.

8. Focus on your child. Answer all her inquiries and all his questions completely so you can share your knowledge and insights about the world with your child.

9. Respectfully parent your child and become an awe-full parent – filled with awe and understanding. Respect involves listening to, considering, liking, enjoying and being in a mutual, interactive relationship with your child.

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