| The best parenting help in the world would be if each | | | | something or struggling a bit, think twice before you |
| toddler came with an individual owner's manual to | | | | jump in and help. Constantly helping your toddler before |
| assist parents in the trying times of toddlerhood. Sure | | | | you have given him a chance to succeed on his own |
| there is plenty of helpful advice out there from other | | | | is sending him a message that he is incompetent or |
| moms and dads and professionals, but every child is | | | | incapable of doing something. You will also be |
| different, with a different temperament so usually | | | | interfering with their ability to become self-reliant. |
| parents end up on a trial and error basis when using | | | | Of course, there are times when a toddler does need |
| parenting help to assist in raising their toddler. Much of | | | | help but give your toddler the chance to see it through |
| parenting is trial and error and not giving up until you | | | | on his own. When you do offer help, avoid completing |
| find the help that works best for you and your toddler. | | | | the task for him. Only help a little and then allow him to |
| A perfect example of this is a toddler's bedtime - | | | | continue on his own. Cheer your toddler on as he |
| getting them to go to bed without a fuss and remain in | | | | works at his task and encourage him not to give up. |
| bed throughout the night. | | | | Children need to learn to endure struggle and |
| This particular parenting help is to lend you a hand in | | | | persevere, an important parenting skill to start teaching |
| avoiding the slips ups that end up slowing down our | | | | during the toddler years. |
| efforts and working against quicker successes. When | | | | Slip Up # 6: Potty Training Too Soon |
| dealing with toddlers, regardless of the technique you | | | | Another very common slip up, parents inveigle their |
| are using for whatever situations, avoid these nine slips | | | | toddlers into potty training to soon. They tend to use |
| ups to help your ride be a little less bumpy and support | | | | harsh and abrupt reprimands which turn into a power |
| whatever technique you are using for whatever | | | | struggle, putting a very negative, unhappy tone for their |
| situation. | | | | toddlers, which usually backfires and does not get the |
| Slip Up #1: Not Enough One on One | | | | results they think it will. This type of behavior can easily |
| Make no mistake that family time is important but be | | | | cause the training to take even more time, making |
| cautious not to go overboard but rather concentrate | | | | your toddler feel insecure and less likely to even |
| more on having one-on-one time with each child. | | | | attempt toilet use. |
| Professionals have always stressed to parents how | | | | Parenting help says parents can set the tone for their |
| children, especially toddlers love one-on-one time with | | | | toddler by introducing the toilet and briefly explaining |
| their parents. | | | | what its use is. Consider showing your toddler how the |
| Simply get on the floor with them and play. No | | | | toilet is used by using it yourself and he can watch. In |
| distractions, no TV, no telephone calls - just you and | | | | good time your toddler will want to copy you, and at |
| your toddler. Let him see that at that time he is the | | | | this point you can praise his wonderful new skill of |
| only thing that matters. | | | | using the toilet. Don't forget to introduce the skill of |
| Slip Up #2: Being Inconsistent | | | | washing hands along with toilet so the two tasks |
| Engraving your toddlers life with consistency is what | | | | become one complete measure. |
| will award you with a more durable and agreeable | | | | Slip Up# 7: Big Kids Bed Too Soon |
| toddler. Toddlers especially thrive when they know | | | | I have always been puzzled as to why this slip up is |
| what to expect. Like a consistent bath time and | | | | so common as well.A baby's crib not only keeps them |
| bedtime, and even what to expect when they are not | | | | safe but it also helps enforce good sleep and bedtime |
| behaving. | | | | habits. Moving your child to a bed before he is ready |
| The parenting help to assist in fixing this problem is to | | | | will play havoc with his sleep patterns and put parents |
| keep regular routines for your toddler. Have a system | | | | in a position of exhaustion when they find themselves |
| set up with your partner ahead of time that both of | | | | in the position to lay in bed with their toddler until he falls |
| you will use when your toddler acts up. Make sure | | | | asleep, or the other side of this picture is all too |
| your caregiver adhere to the same system and make | | | | common which is toddlers waking in the middle of the |
| it clear that regardless of whether she agrees with it | | | | night and climbing into bed with mom and dad. |
| or not she must follow the same system as you and | | | | When your toddler starts climbing out of his crib or |
| your partner. Systems will change and be revised as | | | | asks for a real bed, this is the best time to begin the |
| your toddler grows through the stages of childhood. | | | | change from crib to bed. This usually comes between |
| Slip Up # 3: Too Much Explaining | | | | the ages of 2 to 3. |
| Dr. Phelan explains that at the time when a parent | | | | Slip Up #8: Allowing Too Much TV/Movie Time |
| says "No" to something, and the toddler insists, and | | | | Professionals will tell you that according to recent |
| then parent begins to explain, once again why - this is | | | | studies toddlers who watch too much TV often have |
| what Dr. Phelan calls the talk-persuade-argue-yell-hit | | | | glitches in their learning abilities later on. Too much TV |
| pattern. The argument goes back and forth with tears | | | | also promotes laziness and you will find your toddler |
| from the toddler and further agitation building in the | | | | doesn't want to do anything else but watch TV. |
| parent. | | | | Watching too much television is also associated with |
| Once you lay down the law avoid eye contact. If | | | | overweight kids in childhood. |
| toddler disobeys, give a BRIEF verbal warning. If | | | | Instead of TV keep your toddler active by helping him |
| toddler persists then go into whatever consequence | | | | use his imagination through pretend play, creative |
| you decide to use for this type of misbehaving, such | | | | games, reading, outdoor activities. Talk to your toddler |
| as time out or, some parents will simply ignore their | | | | to promote language, verbal skills, and listening. The |
| toddlers continuous demand once they have already | | | | less TV time your toddler has the better. |
| laid down the law. This is the what I use with my | | | | Slip Up #9: Handling a Tantrum |
| toddler and it works quite well. I say it once, if she | | | | Here is a parent's biggest nightmare, especially when it |
| argues, I give a brief verbal warning, if she continues I | | | | happens in public. Why? We feel judged and for |
| ignore her demands within the particular situation at | | | | whatever reason a toddler having a tantrum in public |
| hand. Remember that toddlers are not adults and are | | | | makes parents feel inadequate in their parenting, which |
| not able to grasp reasons for things so explaining is | | | | is ridiculous because all toddlers have tantrums |
| not accomplishing anything except frustration. | | | | regardless of their mom and dad's parenting level. |
| Slip up #4: Serving Only Toddler Foods or Favorite | | | | There is no point in trying to talk your toddler out of his |
| Foods | | | | tantrum, and there is no point losing your temper |
| Feeding your toddler only fish sticks and fries or mac | | | | because it only makes things worse and will make |
| and cheese will prevent him from wanting to eat | | | | your toddler cry and scream even more. Remember it |
| anything else. Doing this early on will cause you to | | | | is your toddler who is most important and not people |
| have to break bad habits and enforce new ones | | | | and their opinions. Not to mention most of these people |
| which we all know is a tough task. | | | | have simply forgotten that they too were once in the |
| Encourage your toddler, as early on as possible, to eat | | | | same position as you, or they simply have not yet |
| grown up foods, healthy ones of course. If you do this | | | | dealt with their child having a tantrum. Ignore the glares; |
| early on you will find they are less reluctant to try new | | | | don't even look around to see if anyone is looking at |
| foods and will have a broad desire for different type | | | | you. If someone has something to say put a smile on |
| foods. | | | | your face and ask them if they remember the days of |
| Don't always fall prey to their, "I don't like it!" Introduce | | | | toddlerhood. Then, take your toddler to a change of |
| new foods one at a time, if they resist, wait a week | | | | location away from the public eye and let the tantrum |
| and then try again with that same food. Toddlers who | | | | run its course. Once your toddler is finished his tantrum, |
| are conditioned to eat the same kiddie foods, will often | | | | give him a loving smile and hug and carry on with your |
| say they don't like another food just because they | | | | day. |
| don't want it but after a few tries they will usually go | | | | With this parenting help you now know 9 slips ups to |
| for it and thus broadening their scope of meals. | | | | avoid when traveling through the toddler years, helping |
| Picky eater toddlers are quite common so by | | | | to make parenting in toddlerhood a little less of a |
| introducing new foods at a regular pace you help them | | | | bumpy road and adding more value to your parenting |
| open up to different types and tastes of food. If they | | | | skills. |
| fight you, don't make a fuss and don't allow yourself to | | | | More Parenting Help |
| become a personal chef to your toddler as this will | | | | As a mom or mom to be are you aware of the |
| open a whole other can of worms you will have to | | | | consequences of too much weight gain in pregnancy? |
| deal with. | | | | Please share this information with other moms and |
| Slip Up #5: Lending Too Much Help | | | | moms to be - it's such an important topic! |
| When you see your toddler taking time to do | | | | |