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Toddler Antics
Recognizing Age-appropriate Behavior By Harmony Cornwell
No!No matter how hard a parent tries to not overuse the word "no" to toddlers, they pick up on it anyway and use it right back at Mom and Dad. This is another demonstration of the budding independence your toddler is trying to master.
"Don't ask questions that can be given a 'yes' or 'no' answer; instead give choices – but limited choices that you can deal with," Gauthier says. This will let your little one know that something is going to happen and they have some control over the outcome (limited by you).
Schippers tries to turn requests into fun games or convince her daughter "that Mommy really wants to put away the blocks, which usually prompts her to help out or want to do it on her own." There is nothing wrong with using a bit of reverse psychology to gain a toddler's cooperation.
Schippers understands her daughter's desire to feed herself and finds ways to accommodate the growing skill without the need of a huge cleanup afterwards. "I make sure that there are some toddler-friendly finger foods that she can feed herself with and I help with the other foods like applesauce or yogurt," she says.
The terrible twos is the name given to the trying stage of having a toddler, and it can begin as early as 1 and last until the age of 3. "Most parents dread the onset of the tantrums, but understanding that this is a normal step in growing up can help ease the frustration for parents," Gauthier says.