Happy Friday our lovely followers … a little happy jump in our hearts as we are approaching the end of January. We are slowly leaving winter months and approaching the Spring months which I just love. The evenings are getting that wee bit brighter each day and the mornings are getting slightly easier to get out of bed. The sight of the first daffodil bulb peeping through the soil, birds chirping in the morning, buds of spring showing their heads to us.
At 20 months your toddler likes to; dig and make lots of mess, take things apart, carry and help. Your little one is now able to reach much higher than you expected. Make sure to move dangerous object out of reach of those little fingers! Your little one may have figured out how to climb up onto the TV stand or the table but getting down is another thing. Mummy or daddy comes in handy here, as independent as they think they are they still need help from an adult!
Have you thought about ‘Good Discipline’? Children from the ages of 0 – 5 years old learn the most at home. We all tend to think ‘it’s the older years they are formed’ or ‘they will learn all they need to know at school’. However, this is not the case. Learning begins in the home and the most crucial years are from 0 – 5. Children spend only 15 % of their day at school and the rest is in the home.
We need to teach our children right from wrong and how to deal with everyday situations. What if someone takes your child’s favourite toy, what if you are in a hurry and your child doesn’t do what you want. How do you deal with these situations? With discipline – consistency is key. Kids are crafty and they find out your weak areas. So, we must be consistent and lead by example. I find if I shout or get frustrated, I will see my child imitating me and acting the same way I do the next day. You are your child’s role model and best example of how to act in everyday life.
This leads us onto your Child’s Behaviour. We have a little booklet related to this and it is a wonderful book to produce when your child is just driving you around the twist. Behaviour is one of the main ways you can recognise what your child is thinking and feeling. The way a child behaves is linked to the child’s stage of development, personality and capacity to cope. Being aware of what influences child behaviour will help you manage behaviour more effectively. In order for a parent to succeed in managing their child’s behaviour they must be patient, know that every child is different and needs to be dealt with differently, a sense of humour and a focus on the good behaviour.
5 key Points to Managing your child’s behaviour:
- A regular bedtime
- Be specific
- Be consistent
- Reward positive behaviour
- Time out
2 points to remember:
- Praise Your Child often for the good things they have done.
- If you as a parent are feeling stressed, angry or upset, you should take some quiet time for a few moments to clear your head or get someone else to mind your child while you take time out to calm down. Return to your child when you are in a more positive mind frame.
I hope this has helped you with whatever stage your child is at. Be sure to share our blog and keep your eyes peeled for next week’s blog.
