Hi Mommies !! Here are some parenting tips for toddlers that I got from another site.. Check it out !! 

  Parenting Tips: Gentle Discipline for a Toddler

As a baby becomes a toddler, most parents start to think about how best to discipline their child. It would be nice if discipline were a one-size-fits all solution but, like most parenting-related topics, it’s not. What works for one child will not work for another. Good discipline takes parental creativity, consistency, and dedication.

Though it may be hard to believe at times, toddlers are not purposefully disobeying the rules to get you mad. They have a very short memory and are highly impulsive and inquisitive. A parent will find themselves needing to tell their toddler the same thing over and over again – often, even if a toddler is aware of a rule, he or she is not capable of obeying it. Eventually, they will learn – and spankings, slaps, yelling, or ostracizing is not necessary. Loving guidance and active involvement are much more effective than barking commands from across the room.

With a toddler, pick your battles. Some toddler behaviors are annoying, but are not harmful. For example, banging a pot with a spoon may be grating on your nerves, but before you scold your toddler for this behavior, consider if it’s bad enough to warrant disciplinary action.

Here are some tips to help parents elicit their toddler’s cooperation without hitting, yelling, or withdrawing emotional attachment:

1. State requests in short, easy to understand sentences. “You need to sit down.”

2. Allow the child to make a choice, if possible. If your toddler is resisting getting dressed, try allowing him to pick from two outfits. This takes the focus off the power struggle (getting dressed) while also allowing him to feel in control.

3. Explain the reasoning behind your requests when appropriate. (“Please do not bang on the fish tank; see how it scares the fish? Poor fish!”)

4. Use the word “we.” “We sit down at the table when we eat.” This makes your requests and rules sound less like demands and more like expectations, which is what they are, in reality.

5.Try redirecting. If your child is heading toward something that is off limits, try offering him a particularly enticing toy and drawing his attention away from the off limits item.

6. Phrase rules using positive words and phrases. It’s hard for a toddler (or an adult) to obey a negative like “don’t touch that.” Instead, offer an alternative, such as “put your hands behind your back and just look.”

7. If your child has difficulties with transitions (particularly leaving), give him advance warning. “We’re going to leave in 1 minute, so say goodbye to your toys.”

8. Know what to expect of your child developmentally. Expecting a one year old to sit quietly through an hour’s worth of adult conversation is unreasonable. Expecting a one year old to play quietly with some adult involvement is more reasonable.

9.Treat your child how you want him to treat others. You are your child’s most important role model. If he sees you yell and scream, he will learn that yelling and screaming is how we handle frustrating situations. If you remain calm and model good behavior, your child is much more likely to behave in the future.

Living with a toddler every day can be frustrating, but gentle discipline will pay off in the end.