Every parent goes through this phase, toddler puberty. What exactly is this? Toddler puberty usually starts around 18 months and lasts until infancy. During this period, a child discovers that he is someone other than his parents. It is a phase of learning where boundaries lie. A child at this stage wants to do everything himself and take control of his own life. Of course, this does not always succeed and this can cause a lot of frustration, today’s toddler puberty. This is not always the nicest period for parents either. How best to deal with this? We have 5 tips for you.
- Don’t give ‘no’ a chance
Don’t ask yes/no questions. But offer options ‘what shall we do? Play outside, or draw a picture?’
- Let your toddler do as much by himself as possible
Your toddler at this stage is eager to learn to do things himself, so give that chance. Practising doing things yourself will also give your toddler more self-confidence. Especially if you encourage this.
- Distractions
When a tantrum is imminent, distract your toddler with something he or she always likes to do. He will probably forget in no time why he was getting angry again.
- Reward positive behaviour
When you see desirable behaviour, reward it immediately. It really doesn’t have to be with a sweet, a compliment or a hug will suffice. This will encourage your toddler to repeat this behaviour. And that makes everyone happy!
- Routine and structure
A child feels safest when he knows where he stands. A fixed routine and structure help with this.
