Being a good parent to a baby is far different from being a good parent to a toddler. If your kid is on the verge of the toddler years, you’re prepping ahead for the toddler years, or you like to think back fondly on the toddler years, this list is for you!
The Huffington Post recently shared an article that aims to assist parents survive the toddler years. We liked it so much we thought we’d put in our own two cents and share our own list!
Tips and Tricks for Parents of Toddlers
1. Silence = bad
Before you became a parent, silence was one of the most valuable things on the planet. To some extent, that may even be the truth for babies. When your kid becomes a toddler, however, you’ll find that silence is a bad thing! If your home goes from loud to quiet, there’s something wrong and you need to be on alert. Kids get loud, expect loudness. If they’re quiet, it’s not necessarily a good thing.
2. Remain strong and stern
Now that your kid is able to communicate with you on some level, it’s easy to cave in and give them everything they want, whenever they want. Don’t! Understand that you’ve got to stay strong and stern and no amount of puppy dog eyes can change that. Kids need a little discipline, and you have to remain stern when needed.
3. You are their everything
You are quite literally their sun, moon, and stars. Without you, they’d be nothing. You need to realize this if you haven’t already. Since you are their everything, you need to understand that they’re also very impressionable. Since you spend so much time with them, they’ll definitely begin to mimic you in a lot of ways. If you realize that everything you do affects them, or makes an impression on them, you’ll be better off for it. Try to set a strong example, be on your best behavior, an (obviously) do your best to be everything they rely on.
4. Say “bye-bye” to your fancy things
When your baby learned the glory of bipedal locomotion, you probably began to “baby-proof” the house. You made sure that your two legged, intrepid little walker would be safe around sharp, dangerous objects and surfaces. Having a toddler around the house is pretty similar. While they’re intelligent enough to understand that sharp corners are harmful, you’ll still need to work to ensure the house is safe for a toddler to roam. That means saying goodbye to a lot of your more valuable possessions. Not only do you have to make sure that your house is safe for a toddler, you’ll need to make sure your house is safe from a toddler. That means anything valuable or fancy that can break or be played with has to be put away.
5. Be flexible
Maybe you’ve seen memes about girlfriends and how they’re unsure about what they want to eat or do. Toddlers are the exact same way. One day they may love fruit slices and yogurt, and the next day they’re demanding something else! Toddlers are unpredictable in a lot of ways, not just with food. It’s best, as the parent of a toddler, to be flexible and not expect much consistency. In other words, expect the unexpected.
6. “No” is a wonderful thing
The word “no” may seem like a harsh word…and it is, for the most part. However, you’ll come to understand that this word is your magic word that makes you a better parent. You need to lay down the law, and be strict sometimes. That’s why you need to learn the importance of a strong word like “no”. It’ll make for better parents, and better kids as a result.
7. Learn how to share
Sharing as an adult, and sharing as a toddler are…different. That’s why you have to impart wisdom on the subject to your toddler as often as you can. Toddlers can be pretty stubborn, especially when it comes to dividing things evenly. If you don’t believe me, Google the term “terrible twos”. In any case, if you teach them how to share, they’ll learn some valuable lessons from you. While you’re at it, try learning to barter with them. They can be reasoned with if you work on their level. After all, they’re still new to this whole “equality” thing.
If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them with us!
