Kid Tips

1. He's Not Giving Me a Hard Time, He's Having a Hard Time.

When faced with challenging behaviors, it's crucial to remember that behind every action lies a deeper struggle.

2. This is not an emergency; I choose to stay calm.

Amidst the chaos, we hold the power to stay calm.

3. All behavior is a cry for help. I can help him with this. 

Recognizing that every behavior is a form of communication enables us to offer support and guidance.

source: https://www.instagram.com/wildflowerparenting/

Here are some things to keep in mind about 2-year-olds:

 ❂ They have limited language skills: At this age, your child may struggle with expressing themselves.

❂ They have short attention spans: Two-year-olds can be easily distracted and have a limited ability to focus for long periods of time.

❂ They are still learning to control their emotions: Your 2-year-old is still learning how to control their emotions and control their impulses. It's common for them to have temper tantrums.

❂ Two-year-olds have a lot of energy and need opportunities to run, jump, and play. Plenty of physical activity can help toddlers expend energy and develop their gross motor skills.  

source: https://www.instagram.com/healthiest_baby/

Toddlers don't yet understand the concept of sharing. Most toddlers develop sharing between 3.5 - 4 years of age. Sharing is hard for toddlers because it involves thinking about someone else's feeling, wants and needs and they haven't developed the ability to do that just yet. Sharing requires skills like empathy, cooperation, and patience which develops over time. Self-centeredness in toddlerhood is a normal developmental stage, so there's absolutely nothing wrong with your toddler and no they won't grow up to be selfish humans. 

How do we help our toddlers learn to share?

❂ Acknowledge your child when they are generous "it was kind of you to share that."

❂ Model sharing "I see you reaching for my blueberries. Here, I'll share some with you".

❂ Offer Support: Rather than packing the toy away or removing your child from the interaction, lean into sharing struggles. This is a golden opportunity to teach a problem solving and conflict resolution skill along with emotional regulation skill.

source: https://www.instagram.com/wildflowerparenting/

Prolonged goodbyes can often be more challenging than helpful for both you and your child. When farewells drag on, they can heighten anxiety and uncertainty, making the separation process more difficult. By keeping goodbyes short and consistent, you foster a sense of security and trust. Additionally, preparing your child ahead of time about when and where you'll be parting can help them anticipate the separation and adjust to it more comfortably. 

source: https://www.instagram.com/healthiest_baby/

When your toddler reverts to baby talk, consider the need behind this behavior. They might be seeking comfort or extra attention. Instead of discouraging it, provide more hugs, cuddles, and allow them to regress temporarily. Addressing their underlying emotional needs will create a supportive environment that encourages their natural progression back to age-appropriate communication.

source: https://www.instagram.com/healthiest_baby/

 The size of a child’s stomach is approximately equivalent to the size of their fist. How big their stomach is is also dependent on their body size and age; as the child grows, so does the size of their stomach. These tiny tummies aren’t meant to handle large meals. However, the human stomach is able to expand 4 times the usual size as long as food is being pumped in. 

source: https://afyaborablog.wordpress.com/2016/04/15/stop-overfeeding-your-child-her-stomach-is-as-small-as-her-fist-2/

 No matter how well or badly your child is feeling, a fever can be a sign that something isn’t quite right. When a fever comes around, that means your child’s body is reacting to an infection or virus; a fever is a sign that your child’s body is fighting back! Even though fevers are a sign of healthy bodies reacting to illness, they definitely can make your child feel lousy. 

For more information: https://www.pedseast.com/blog/posts/how-high-is-too-high-a-guide-to-kids-fevers

 We definitely want kids to understand that they control what happens to their bodies—so teaching them about consent, and asking for their consent in everyday situations, is important.

But what happens when they refuse? If we force it, we’re just teaching them that their “no” doesn’t mean anything. So how do we balance consent, with stuff that kids just HAVE to do, like get their coat on when it’s cold outside?

Try these strategies to make sure they do what they need to do, while still respecting their boundaries. 

source:

https://www.instagram.com/parentstogether/

Kids WILL eat when they're hungry and forcing them to eat when they say they don't want any more sets them up for an unhealthy relationship with food.

To set the foundation for a healthy relationship with food, experts have the following suggestions for encouraging a more varied diet:

Offer bitter or sour foods in combination with something sweet

Never demand that your child keep eating (“Just two more bites!”, “No dessert until you clean your plate!” etc.) when they’ve said they’re finished

Involve kids so they have ownership in their meals—let them help plan meals, shop for or plant food, and help cook

Model non-picky eating by trying a variety of foods in front of your child, and keep offering new foods to them multiple times 

source:

https://www.instagram.com/healthiest_baby/

Empathy, or the ability to understand and share other people’s feelings, may come more naturally to some people than others, but it’s a skill that requires practice like anything else.

After all, it’s complicated! To be empathetic, your child needs to:

1️⃣ Understand that they’re an individual, separate from other people (usually starts between 18-24 months)
2️⃣ Understand that other people can have different thoughts and feelings than their own
3️⃣ Recognize the common feelings that most people experience (sadness, anger, happiness, etc)
4️⃣ Be able to look at a situation and imagine how they—and therefore the person in the situation—might feel in this moment
5️⃣ Be able to imagine what response might be appropriate or comforting

A lot of things have to come together for a child’s compassion and empathy to extend to those around them, but you can help in really simple ways.

Look for everyday opportunities to point out how people (your child, yourself, others) are feeling, wonder or talk about why they might be feeling that way, and think aloud or demonstrate comforting, caring ways to respond.   

source: https://www.instagram.com/parentstogether/