Parenting Tips for Toddlers

There aren't any one-size-fits-all parenting tips for toddlers. Every toddler has to be treated differently, as they come with different set of tantrums and troubles. Though a toddler can drive you at your wits end, it is important that you keep a positive outlook, to bring out the best in your child. At the age of 2-3, your child is likely to experience a lot of emotional, intellectual and social changes. This is the time when toddlers get introduced to the idea of socializing, at day cares or in play groups and pushing their comfort zone. Since it is their first time into the 'real world', as a parent, patience is the virtue that you need to learn. Here are a few more parenting tips, that will help you bring up a responsible child.

Tips for Effective Parenting

Bath Discipline
Most toddlers have fears and taking a bath is the most common one that you would come across. Even the most intelligent toddler, dear Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes) despises the idea of taking a bath, for he fears drowning. To get your child into bath discipline, try out different things to allure him/her such as toys, bubble baths, coloring agents, stories, music and other such games. Ask your child to pick up his/her favorite toy and give it a bath to clean it everyday. Gradually, your child will get friendly with bathroom gadgets, water and the schedule. Another way of imbibing bathing is to take baths with your child. Once your child gets used to taking a bath without tantrums, stick to the schedule.

Brushing Teeth
Getting your child to clean their teeth is by far the toughest parenting challenge. Let's accept most of us don't brush our teeth twice a day, even now. So, to put your toddler into a good habit, it is important that you begin early. Once your child's teeth start erupting, clean it with moist cloth. This way your child will get used to sleeping with a fresh breath and waking up with a fresh breath too. In the toddler's phase, to get your child to brush teeth, begin brushing with him/her. Take your child, toothbrush shopping to pick out his favorite toothbrushes with cartoon characters and fancy stuff. Read out articles to your child about importance of brushing teeth and help him to understand oral hygiene through simple methods.

Biting Blues
Many children tend to bite in order to defend themselves. It is a way of showing their anger and frustration. Toddlers also bite to get attention. If you overreact to a situation like this, the purpose of biting will be accomplished. To teach your toddler that this behavior is unacceptable, monitor your child's behavior when he/she is in crowd. As your child begins to bite defend yourself or get attention, make an eye contact and say a loud and a firm 'NO'. It's important that you don't get down to teaching your child a lesson by biting him/her back, because it will send a message to the child that it is OK to hurt people to make your point. Praise your child, whenever he/she refrains from biting and vents out his/her anger by talking about it.

Sharing with Toys
In the initial stage, the concept of toys is very new for toddler. This makes them hold on to it, projecting them to be selfish and possessive. The biggest mistake most parents make is confiscation of toys, because toddlers refuse to share it. Give your child sometime and credit. As they get used to playing with toys and their belongings, they will automatically begin sharing it.

These parenting tips for toddlers are very generalized. You may have to mend your way at times while dealing with your tiny tot. 'I am old, so I am right and you are young so you are wrong', is a policy that always fails while parenting your child. I hope, you develop a strong bond disciplined by love and respect as your toddler grows up.