Parenting Tips
• Try to deal with your own stress before you
start to deal with your child.
• Love is your child's most important need. Never
tell your child that you don't love her.
• Give your child your full attention when she
is telling you something.
• Always be consistent with your child.
• Most children from 18 months to three years
can be frustrating - yours is not the only one.
• Praise good behavior.
• Give your child choices when you can.
• If you have to say, try to explain why.
• Try not to pick fights about little things.
• If you get it wrong, say so and apologize
• Try to stay in control - remember you are supposed
to be the mature one not your child.
Toddler Aggression - the
causes
Here are reasons why your toddler is prone to aggression:
• Being prevented from doing something he wants
to do or having difficulty in being understood.
• Is too young to understand that certain physical
actions can hurt.
• Feeling emotionally stressed, insecure or unloved.
• Feeling jealous, such as after the arrival of
a new baby.
• Imitating an adult or an older child who is
aggressive towards him.
• Reaction to certain foods.
• Fatigue and hunger.
• Boisterous - such children exhibit their energy
and enthusiasm in a more aggressive manner than shy
or placid children.
• Not being able to let off steam through physical
outdoor activities.
• Watching violent and aggressive television characters
getting away with their behavior.
• Experiencing continual criticism or punishment.
The Overindulged Toddler
Every child needs to be pampered or indulged once in
a while. She needs your love, time and attention. These
make a child feel secure and loved; but when a child
is given too many possessions or anything she asks for,
is constantly the center of attention, is seldom or
never disciplined, she will grow up expecting the world
to revolve around her all the time and becomes very
demanding. Striking the balance between love and over-indulgence
can be tricky. Some situations when your child is overindulged
include when she is frequently ill or when the mother
is working or the parents are separated. Spoiling the
child is also common in families if the child is an
only or much longed for child or if she is the first
or only grandchild. Your intentions may be good but
spoiling your toddler may lead to behavioral and social
problems as she gets older. A spoilt or overindulged
child is likely to be:
• Unpopular with other children because she always
wants her own way
• Insecure because no limits have been set on
the way she behaves
• Greedy because she expects to get more than
others
• Selfish because she has never been taught to
share
• Disobedient because she has always been allowed
to do what she wants
• Inconsiderate of other people's feelings
• Impossible to satisfy
• Constantly whining or moaning
• Rude and bad mannered.
