Parenting Toddlers

Toddler is a common term for a young child who is learning to walk or toddle, generally considered to be the second stage of development after infancy and before childhood occurring predominantly during the ages of 12 to 36 months old. When you're a parent, it's important to remember that you're the one in charge.

Your child is a person deserving of respect, but you are the teacher and leader in the family. During this period, the child learns a great deal about social roles and develops motor skills. This age is sometimes referred to as 'the terrible twos', because of the temper tantrums for which they are famous.

Toddler behavior can be surprising, frustrating, and often out-of-control. But once you establish a pattern of discipline that works, you'll spend less time scolding and more time enjoying your tot.

Caring for a toddler can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can also be hard work. A busy toddler will need your constant attention, but there are some ways to make the job easier. Lets find out What does life look like through the eyes of a toddler?

Developments and Behavior.

Toddler Emotions: Toddlers are on an emotional roller coaster, cuddling and clinging one moment and striving for independence the next. Toddlers are made of strong emotions that pull them in different directions. Try for just a moment to imagine what it feels like to be a toddler. At this stage you should be very understanding and try to be a kind with them. Respect their feelings and they will learn to respect others. Life is full of new things and each day they are learning.

Need attention: you should always encourage good behavior by praising your child and ignore bad behavior - unless it was actually dangerous - because at the end of the day, most of your child's bad behavior is their effort to get attention from you as you are so wrapped up in other things, such as household work.

Dr Christopher Green, consultant paediatrician and author of 'Toddler Taming - A Parents' Guide to the First Four Years' says most toddlers' bad behavior stems from seeking attention. 'Toddlers crave attention,' he says. 'If they can't get it by fair means, they lower their sights, irritate their parents and grab it by some annoying act.

Most of us impose no limits, which gives a poor foundation for both schooling and life. With excessive freedom, children may feel that their parents do not care enough about them to care what they do.' So you must explain your child about their limits and try to teach them discipline from the very beginning.

Toddler Talk: Children at this age are learning language at a truly amazing rate. The typical toddler speaks a few one-word sentences at age one. Between age one and three, toddlers move to very complex sentences. But their verbal abilities often develop faster than their mental and emotional maturity. So toddlers often sound as if they understand more than they really do. Arrange a story reading in a small, informal group. Children of this age learn best by doing things for themselves. The best group time for this age is highly active so that children do more than just listen to an adult.

toddler talk

Toddler Pretend: The second year of life is when pretend play begins. As their imagination grows, so too do imagined fears. One reason for this is that toddlers can have difficulty telling the difference between real and pretend. Sensitive caregivers encourage pretend play, but also watch this play carefully to see if there is anything that is disturbing. Sometimes children will become frightened by their own play and will need the support of an adult to help to see the difference between real and pretend.

Toddler Fear: Fear and Anxiety is a normal - and expected - part of a toddler's cognitive and emotional development. Look at it from his point of view: It's a big, scary world out there, and every step your toddler takes toward independence comes with an equal measure of fear about what he's stepping into. As your child explores the world around him, he also discovers that things can go wrong.

This is the time when they need you the most. Cuddle and reassure them that you are always there. Be creative about helping your toddler tackle his fears. Toddlers have active imaginations and limited vocabularies, so it's no wonder they have trouble articulating what they're feeling. Help your child express his emotions by talking about them

Toddler Stubbornness: Toddlers may become suddenly stubborn, refusing to do nearly all things. Most 2-year-olds should be able to follow a 2-step command ("Pick up that toy and put it in the toy box.") at least some of the time (so we hope!). Of course, recognize that a toddler's normal stubbornness will sometimes get in the way of following your directions.

To help your child learn this skill, try to keep directions simple and specific. Break down a large task, such as "clean your room" into a series of smaller tasks, such as "put your books on the shelf," "put your shoes in the closet," etc. Be sure that the tasks are within your child's capabilities and try to give the tasks one at a time.

Toddler Possessiveness: Possessiveness, rational or otherwise, peaks in the toddler years, often turning playtime into a pint-sized battleground. While most toddlers enjoy the company of other children their own age, they are more successful at parallel play, where they do the same activity or copy each others actions but don't necessarily directly interact. In other words, they like being near each other but not too close!

The idea of sharing toys or favorite people is difficult for toddlers to grasp. Toddlers need a little help to solve their squabbles. This, in turn, gives them the skills they need to work out their own problems down the road. Teach them to take turns. Allow a child to finish using a toy, and teach the child who wants it to say, "May I have it when you're finished?"

This way both children learn something they need. One child learns to finish his or her play and feels a sense of satisfaction. The other child learns to wait (with the support of an adult). Both children also learn how to talk to each other, growing in their ability to communicate.

Toddler Temper Tantrums: Temper tantrums range from whining and crying to screaming, kicking, hitting, and breath holding. They're equally common in boys and girls and usually occur from age 1 to age 3. Kids' temperaments vary dramatically - so some kids may experience regular tantrums, whereas others have them rarely.

Several basic causes of tantrums are familiar to parents everywhere: The child is seeking attention or is tired, hungry, or uncomfortable. In addition, tantrums are often the result of kids' frustration with the world - they can't get something (for example, an object or a parent) to do what they want. Frustration is an unavoidable part of their lives as they learn how people, objects, and their own bodies work.

The best way to deal with temper tantrums is to avoid them in the first place, whenever possible. Try to give toddlers some control over little things. This may fulfill the need for independence and ward off tantrums. Offer minor choices such as "Do you want orange juice or apple juice?" or "Do you want to brush your teeth before or after taking a bath?" If a safety issue is involved and a toddler repeats the forbidden behavior after being told to stop, use a time-out or hold the child firmly for several minutes. Be consistent. Kids must understand that you are inflexible on safety issues.

Some important points for toddlers proper growth:

Starting nursery: One of the major events in your toddler's life will be their first experience of nursery school. To ensure that their time there is as successful as possible, Debbie Lawson, chair of the Professional Association of Nursery Nurses, says it is vital you choose a nursery that both you and your child are happy with.

Your child will only be happy at nursery if you are happy with it, because he will pick up on your feelings. And don't forget that separation anxiety does not only happen to the children - parents feel it too.

Things to bear in mind while selecting nursery are:

Read the nursery's report. How does it compare with other nurseries in the area?
Is the nursery clean, bright and welcoming?
Is the children's work valued? Are pictures displayed on the walls?
How many members of staff have first aid qualifications?
What is the nursery's comforting policy?
Can mums or dads stay with the child during their first session?
Are the children happily playing or wandering about aimlessly?

While sick: Sick toddlers are not as difficult to look after as sick babies. They can at least tell you where it hurts, and don't mind curling up for an hour or two in front of the TV with a hot water bottle, a warm drink and plenty of fussing from you.

Stroud-based GP Dr Dawn Harper says the vast majority of illnesses with fever in toddlers are viral, and these tend to only last for three or four days, and can be handled by parents. The basic advice is to give liquid paracetamol every four hours, give your child a cool bath - and make sure he has plenty to drink, as dehydration can occur even with slight temperature.

Take your child to the doctor if:

his temperature has not gone down after giving him paracetamol
he has any kind of rash
his nappies are dry
he complains of earache and has pus coming out of his ear.

Safety precautions you must take. Toddlers are curious, so it is imperative that you child proof your house whenever little ones are around.

Remove sharp objects and knickknacks from a toddler's easy reach.
Make sure that all wall outlets are covered with plastic outlet protectors.
Cover sharp corners with foam edge bumpers.
Keep the child away from a hot stove or hot pots and pans.
Use baby gates at the bottom and top of stairs so the child can't climb upstairs (or down).
Install safety latches on drawers and cabinets so that the child can't open them.
Constantly supervise the child if there is a pool or a body of water nearby.

Food and eating: Before you feed the child anything, make sure you know if he or she has any food allergies. Milk, egg and peanut allergies can be common--and also life threatening. Read all food labels thoroughly if you are caring for a toddler who has any type of food allergy. Also, avoid giving toddlers foods that can pose a choking hazard like whole grapes, hot dogs and popcorn.? Don't let the child load up on sugary drinks and juices, which could spoil his or her appetite.

Basic Rules for parenting:

Praise good behavior as much as possible.
Ignore bad behavior that is minor and obviously attention-seeking.
Don't pick fights over issues that can be handled differently. For example, if your child is scribbling on the walls and doesn't know this is wrong, remove the pens, or supply a piece of paper, gently explaining that pens are for paper, not the walls.
Be firm when you need to be.
Enjoy every minute with your child, thwy do not stay small for long!

Being a mother is a special feeling however growing a child is a big responsibility. The future of your child depends upon the type of care and discipline you give to your child from the initial stage of his life. So let's join hands together and give your child a free sky to grow as a complete human being.