Parenting Tips: How to Improve Toddler Behavior

It is a fact that toddlers at their age and stage in life are very prone to tantrum throwing, stubbornness and frustrations. To help parents improve toddler behavior here are some tips.

1. Encourage your child to communicate.

Always remind your child to speak and use words to express his or her feelings. If he or she cannot talk yet, you can teach him or her actions or gestures to keep him or her from being frustrated.

2. Know your toddler’s limits.

Your child might not be behaving right and it can be because he or she doesn’t understand what you are asking or what is happening around your toddler. He or she may be confused.  Be sure to simplify your directions and expectations.

3. Provide your child with choices if possible.

This is a way of encouraging toddlers to become independent. This can be done in many ways such as letting him or her choose what socks to wear or making them pick what bedtime story they want to read.

4. Be consistent with schedules.

Keep a daily routine that allows your toddler to know what to expect.

5. Eliminate situations that could possibly crank up tantrums or frustrations.

Situations such as letting your toddler play puzzle games which are too advanced for him or her is an example. If you are going on long family outings or gathering with friends in which your child has to sit and behave, bring along toys which he or she can play with or plan activities that can keep him or her busy. Usually, they are more likely to throw a tantrum when they are either hungry, tired, or bored.

6. Take your toddler’s “no” calmly.

When your toddler says “no”, don’t react too much. Instead, you can always calmly reiterate or repeat your request. You can also have an alternative such as distracting your toddler or playing a game with him or her out of good behavior.  Your toddler will more likely do what you want them to do because the activity is fun.

7. Choose your battles.

Your toddler is likely to get easily frustrated if you say no to everything. Find times when it is okay to say yes instead of no.

8. Let your toddler understand how to follow rules.

Instead of getting angry and shouting at your child, you can offer suggestions or alternatives such as saying, “Why don’t you share your toys?” Or “Why don’t you two take turns playing?”

9. Bear up consequences.

There are times that despite your efforts, your toddler will break the rules. You can actually ignore minor show offs of anger such as crying. But if your toddler is already throwing, hitting, or kicking, you can remove him or her from the situation.

10. Be a role model.

Toddlers learn how to act by observing their parents. Setting positive examples for him or her to follow is the best way to show your toddler how to behave.

There are still a lot of things you can do to improve your parenting, but it will always depend on how you handle your child during challenging circumstances.  With a little practice and patience, these tips can help you when trying to improve your toddler’s behaviors.