Table of contents:
- Tips for educating toddlers in order to grow disciplined to adulthood
- 1. Be consistent
- 2. Recognize tantrum triggers in children
- 3. Follow the child's mindset
- 4. Create an appropriate environment
- 5. Don't hesitate to "punish" the child
- 6. Stay calm
- 7. Think positive
Educating a child from a toddler is the most difficult task of parents. The reason is, the toddler age is a period where your little one still wants to be free to do what he likes. The method taken by each parent is different. Some are more patient, but some tend to get angry or even involve violence such as yelling, hitting, or yelling.
The wrong choice of ways to discipline the wrong child can actually make the child even more defiant and run away from responsibility. Instead of using violence that wastes energy, it's better to use a more subtle, but focused and effective way to discipline children. How to?
Tips for educating toddlers in order to grow disciplined to adulthood
1. Be consistent
Reporting from WebMD, Claire Lerner, a child development specialist, states that from the age of 2 to 3 years children work hard to understand how their behavior affects those around them. Lerner said that regular and consistent parenting styles can make children feel safer and more protected. Children know what their parents expect so they can be calmer when given orders.
Take, for example, when you say "don't hit" the first time your little one hits a peer, maybe the next day your little one can keep hitting. If you come back to say “don't hit” when it is repeated for the second, third, or fourth time, the child will be more understanding and calm about not hitting. However, remember to use a calmer tone so that your child doesn't feel threatened and disobeyed.
Meanwhile, if you are not consistent, your little one will feel confused. For example, when one day you don't allow your little one to play ball in the house but the next day you just let it go. This will mix up the suggestions and prohibitions in the child's brain so that the child does not know what is allowed and what is not. So do not be surprised if children gradually become undisciplined.
Do it many times, until your little one understands the commands you are giving. Your little one will absorb commands and learn to do the same after four or five repeated events.
2. Recognize tantrum triggers in children
Tantrums are common occurrences in every child. Therefore, every parent must know very well what makes their child tantrums and fussy. Most children, of course, will have explosive emotions when they feel hungry or sleepy. So, it's good to avoid these times when you want to teach discipline to children.
For example, if you want to teach your child to discipline bedtime, make sure you and your little one are home during nap hours and at night. So, avoid taking it to supermarkets or other places when your little one is sleepy or hungry.
This is where the cooperation between you and your little one is needed so that the process of educating children runs smoothly. If your child is still tantrums, give him their favorite toy first to trigger a better mood. Only then can you return to play with him while learning to be responsible for what your little one does. Don't forget to praise your little one when he succeeds in doing his version of positive activities.
3. Follow the child's mindset
The way to educate other children from toddlers is to follow the mindset of your little one. It's very easy to get upset when your little one messes up the whole house. Today your little one draws the whole wall of the house with crayons, then the next day he spreads the toys without tidying them up again. You must be dizzy.
But remember, your mindset is certainly different from the mindset of your little one. Maybe for you tidying up toys is something that is easy and can be resolved quickly, but not necessarily for your little one.
So, try to follow the child's mindset. In children his age, things like that are indeed fun activities. Also remember that you did the same thing when you were his age. This is because toddlers are a period when your little one learns and gets to know what is around him.
So, instead of being annoyed because your little one doesn't want to be asked to clean up his toys. You can help tidy up the toys and set a good example for them. Let him know if this is important to do and is his job. That way, over time he will get used to it. Don't forget to give your little one a compliment if he managed to tidy up his own toys.
4. Create an appropriate environment
Now you know that your little one is experiencing endless curiosity and wants to explore all new things. Now, to start educating children, avoid various temptations that can break children's concentration. Yes, creating a conducive and appropriate environment for your little one is the right way to educate children.
For example, avoid access to TV, cellphones, tablets, or other electronic devices that can interfere with the learning process of children under five. The process of educating children is sometimes interrupted by a video display that is more attractive to the little one than the toys around it. Reading books or other toys can actually stimulate motor and motor skills more.
According to Rex Forehand, Heinz, and Rowena Ansbacher, professor of psychology at the University of Vermont, parents need to create a conducive atmosphere when educating their children. Even when your child starts to rebel, parents should not punish their children but instead move them to other activities that can distract them.
5. Don't hesitate to "punish" the child
Many parents do not have the heart to punish their children. Actually, this is also needed to show a firm attitude in educating children. But remember, you also have to measure the punishment given to your little one, don't be too burdensome. This is only done to make your little one learn discipline.
For example, when your little one hits, bites, or throws his food, take him to his room or to a more private room. Then, ask him to stay in the room and think about what he has been doing for a few moments. Here, invite the child to be calmer and give the understanding that your little one's attitude needs to be improved along with the reasons. For example, “You can't throw food, right. Later the floor will get dirty."
Do it this way for one to two minutes, at least until you have finished giving understanding to your little one. When it's finished, give a sign to your little one that he or she can leave the “punishment” location and promise not to repeat it again. Thus, your little one will learn that not everything he can do just like that, especially if it harms other people. Your little one will certainly feel like they don't want to go back to the corner of the room and serve another sentence.
6. Stay calm
Avoid yelling at or scolding your little one when he doesn't want to be disciplined. The reason is, this will only make the positive messages you say just disappear in your little one's mind. When your little one picks up on the negative aura of a parent's anger, he will only see the shape of the emotion and will not hear what you say.
Try to stay calm in front of your little one. Take a deep breath, count to three, and look into your eyes deeply. Reprimanding and being assertive doesn't mean it has to be accompanied by emotions, right?
7. Think positive
Relax, no parent is perfect. There is no need to compare your child's discipline with other children his age. Because every child has a different development period and cannot be equated. Just do the best you can.
No matter how stressful you are trying to teach your little one to be disciplined, keep thinking positive. Believe that you are able to educate children as well as possible. Ask your partner or pediatrician for the best advice on disciplining your child.
As long as you are consistent with the rules you make, your little one will slowly learn to discipline with positive results that will surprise you.
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