Raising children is a rewarding experience, though one fraught with problems. The toddler years, for example, are when your child starts to have great emotional, social and cognitive development. But along with the development come temper tantrums, among others, which would make it hard for you to teach your toddler a thing or two on proper behaviour. Here are mistakes you should avoid doing.
- Dealing With The Temper Tantrum – I think every child is guilty of deciding one day, that they are not happy with the way you are dealing with something, and decide to see how much noise they have to make, before you will cave in to what they want. The child is pushing his boundaries, and at the same time, testing yours. Yielding to them is really not going to work out so well and if you do, you just invited exactly the same thing to happen every time. This is a very important lesson for the child to learn. They will actually love you more, once they understand the limits, and understanding the word “no,” means they will begin to respect it from you and from others, such as their future teachers.
- Consistent Behaviour From Parents – Children learn things very quickly and if you give them half an excuse, they will play you like a fiddle. When Junior knows that Mum will say no but Dad will say yes, you are sending mixed messages. This will leave the child unsure what is generally acceptable behaviour, and will lead to strains in your relationship, as he looks to exploit your differences in approach. It is a good idea to talk to your partner about what to do under certain circumstances, like throwing food on the floor, so you are both consistent in your actions.
- Developing Your Child’s Independence – Children in their early years are somewhat uncoordinated in their actions, and it is tempting to try to do everything for them, which is a mistake. Encouraging them to do things for themselves is the best way to getting them feeling good about achieving something. From putting their finger on the laces while you tie the bow on their shoes, to having them hold their glass while you pour them a drink, it all serves to help them understand and learn new skills. Every time they learn something new, they will feel a sense of achievement, so give them room to try things for themselves.
- Staying At Home Rather Than Attending Kindergarten – Once children can walk and talk, their thirst for knowledge starts to become insatiable, and staying home with Mum, may not be the best choice. A good kindergarten gives youngsters a chance to learn activities and develop problem-solving and social skills, which will be necessary when they attend formal school. You’d surely say that ‘finding a Guardian preschool near me was easy’ as a quick Internet search will undoubtedly help you locate quality Preschools in your area too.
- Being Critical Or Angry – Young children need constant reassurance that they are loved and appreciated, though in searching for assurance, they may come close to driving you crazy. It is important that you give them praise for what they were trying to do, even if they fail abjectly to succeed. Children are going to make lots of mistakes as they try to learn, and it can be very damaging for their self-confidence, if they get shouted at or are called stupid. Toddlers have very little comprehension about you being busy and are naturally curious, so frustrating as it is, it is better to stop what you are doing and pay attention, rather than screaming at them for the fifth time to please shut up.
If you are careful to avoid falling in the above traps and approach parenthood in a logical way, raising your child should be a pleasure and something you will always remember.