Know the Toddler Phase

The toddler phase in a child’s life can be sharply marked by an increasing need to assert its independence. This will be a time fraught with challenges for you, as you try to support your toddlers’ impulses to explore his environment, while also safeguarding them from any harm.

If the battle to assert your authority may sometimes lead to frayed nerves or tempers on your part, be sure that you will also be rewarded by the development of a new and complex level of interaction between your child and yourself. The toddler phase can indeed be very demanding, especially at the initial stage of the phase.
Here are some ways in which you can encourage and extend your support during this difficult and yet essential and interesting phase in your child’s life:

• Let your toddlers explore within a limit: It is the parent’s task to set acceptable limits and as long as your toddlers do not cross those limits, allow complete freedom to explore. Your toddlers will learn to appreciate this and broaden their horizons through the use of their newfound curiosities.
• Honor and appreciate the choices made by your toddler as long as they do not harm anyone.
• Be calm and composed: Do not get irritated by your toddler’s tendency to refuse or rebel. This is actually a good sign to tell you that your toddler is developing a mind of his or her own.
• Do not neglect your toddler’s urge to play: Get your child various types of games appropriate for a toddler’s age. Your toddlers will learn important things in the process of enjoying the games such as eye-hand coordination, an understanding of logical sequences in events etc.

Also read this Useful article for single parents.

Is it Normal for Your Baby to Suddenly Develop Shyness?

Shyness is a normal response seen in infants to an overwhelming social experience. Such children may or may not retain this behavior for life. Remember that shyness is not abnormal and is a phase of the development process. Ensure that your baby is not experiencing severe discomfort or fear in new situations.
Causes
While there is no known cause for shyness in babies, several possible explanations exist that include:

• Some researchers believe shyness may be an inherited behavior. However, at the same time, children are likely to adopt behaviors seen in their parents, biological or not.
• The temporary withdrawal seen in children is a defense mechanism that helps them to gain a sense of control over their surroundings, especially in new situations such as a party with bright lights and many people talking loudly at the same time.
• Nature provides babies with a natural wariness of strangers. Babies start recognizing faces early in life, and feel comfortable with the familiar faces of their parents.
• Some children are naturally shy, and do not enjoy being the center of attention.

Helping the shy baby
Here are some ways to help your shy baby ‘come out’:

• Children learn by example. Appear outgoing and confident when your child is watching.
• Socialize your kids with as many people as possible right from an early age in different situations.
• Use positive association methods. Do not criticize, yell, or shout if your child refuses to play with somebody. Smile when your baby agrees to be held by a trusted person you know well.
• Do not force children to do something they do not like, as it will only reinforce shy behavior.
• Make playtime fun and encourage your baby to play with other kids. Use your children’s favorite toys and objects to lure them into interacting with other people.

Basic dining etiquette for little kids to learn

Quick ! You have 25 days to get the kids in shape to make a good presentation at Christmas dinner. Like a lot of stuff in parenting, consistency and patience are by-words and yes, you can teach a toddler few new tricks. Here are the basic etiquette skills little ones should have:

• “Please,” “Thank you” and “You’re welcome” are not optional. Repeat them over, invite your kids to correct you, and you’ll find by Christmas a pleasant and polite Pavlovian response.
• Eating with fingers is for babies, with the obvious exceptions ( pizza, ribs, chicken legs for example ). Little kids can use a fork, though you may have to help load it up from time to time. Resist the temptation to feed them and they will pick up this skill, leaving you free to get them another glass of milk.
• Kids need to ask to be excused to leave the table. Teaching kids not to run around during dinner is not that easy, but you’ll make it harder if you chase them around to get them to eat.
• Salt and pepper go together. Pass them together for a polished impression.
• Even little kids can and should use napkins, keep them on their laps, and learn to use them rather than wiping their hands on their pants.

You can make it easier for the kids by eating dinner in a room without distractions like TV, and make a rule not to allow toys or books while eating the family meal together.
Good luck and Bon appetit!

Protecting your Child Against Poisoning

With toddlers in your home, poisoning is another potential danger you have to come to grips with. Their curiosity might induce them to ingest, or come in contact with, toxic substances that could be harmful to them.
You will be surprised to know that just about anything can be poisonous to your toddlers. Here is a simple checklist:

• Aspirin
• Lye
• Drain cleaning solvents
• Cosmetics
• Alcoholic beverages
• Moth balls
• Bleach
• Washing and cleaning liquids, soap bars, powders, etc.

To make your children aware of the dangers of ingesting unknown things, there are some simple thumb rules:

• Never call medicines or any bright-colored, small pellet, lozenge, etc. candy.
• Keep dangerous things out of your toddlers’ reach; take into account the fact that they are adventurous explorers and terrific climbers.
• Make use of child-resistant locks, packages, etc. to stock the most dangerous things.

If any untoward incident were to happen, here are some signs that you need help:

• Your toddlers have difficulty breathing.
• They complain of severe throat pain or burning sensations
• You spot burns on their lips or mouth.
• Your children are experiencing convulsions, falling unconscious or are extremely sleepy.

In such a case, instant and immediate action could save your child. Always remember:

• Never try to induce vomiting. If a strong acidic substance has been ingested, throwing it up could further injure children by burning their throat and mouth
• In an emergency, call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at (800) 222-1222. You will be redirected to your local poison control center.

Useful Article: Child Development

Child Behavior Suggestions – Cleaning up their Mess

Are you tired of your kids acting like royalty around the house? Making a mess of their rooms as they throw away their clothes and food, expecting you to go picking after them?

Enough is enough – pull yourself out of the mess by teaching your toddlers to help. Its time for Operation Clean Up! As a parent, the following steps will certainly help with the clean up:

• STEP 1: Make an announcement. Let your toddlers know that it’s time to clean up. Give them a specific place to put the toys – a plastic tub or a toy box will do fine. Place the container in the middle of the room.
• STEP 2: Using a loud voice, say “Look at this huge mess. Is there anyone who can help me?” as you are setting the container down. A toddler’s attention tends to pick up this tone. You can also make up and sing a cleanup song to get them into the swing. Remember to be happy and positive about the task.
• STEP 3: By means of demonstration, pick up some toys on the floor and place them in the container. All the while you can continue with the singing and coaxing.
• STEP 4: Now is the time to ask your children to (please) pick up a specific toy. Thank them when they start placing toys in your hand or in the container.
• STEP 5: Always keep a back-up plan, as a consequence for not helping. Give them a timeout or better still, you can threaten to take away one of their treasured items till they start cleaning up.
• STEP 6: Warn the toddlers only once and then follow through with the consequence they don’t help.
• STEP 7: Continue cleaning up the toys until all of the toys are picked up.

Related Article: Kids Activities

Reason Why Do Kids Lie

It wasn’t me Daddy! You must have heard your 5-year old say that to you at some point or other, when you knew it was in fact he who did it. How do you deal with your kid, knowing he is lying to you? When your child lies to you, remember he is not doing it on purpose. The reasons why kids lie are:

 
Short-Term Memory: Children in the age group of five have short-term memory. If your kid tells you he didn’t do it, chances are that he does not remember doing any thing wrong.

 
Wishing it away: Often, children wish that the wrong did not happen, and tend to believe that it actually did not. So, if your child denies a wrong, he simply might be convinced that he did not do it.

Imagination: A five-year-old child has a very fertile imagination, and loves to conjure up fantasy worlds of his own. He lives in a fantasy world, and thinks that all of it is actually true.

 
Fear of disapproval: Your kid does not want to disappoint you. He might fear the fact that a mistake could upset you, and he does not want to be in that situation. He tries to avoid that by lying to you.

Feel good factor: Your child wants to impress not just you, but also himself. He makes up stories to ‘enhance’ his amazing feats. There is an underlying desire for approval from parents that leads kids to come up with such tales.

 
Seeking attention: Children often desire attention from people around them. Your kid can easily learn that a tall one definitely will elicit a reaction from you, and decides to play his cards. He does not care if the response is not positive, his motive has been met – you reacted to his tale. He is successful in getting the attention he seeks this way.

 
Control: Kids often love to be in control of a situation, and make believe situations where they are in control.

 
Testing parents: It may sound frustrating to you, but your kid at this age is constantly trying to test the limits you will allow him to go. This gives them an understanding of their own powers in the household. They resort to stretching the truth as one of the ways to do this.

Common Child Behavior – Whining

Kids whine when they are hungry, tired, bored or if they are sick. But they also whine when they need attention from their parents. Parents tend to worry, and not without good reason, that their children will grow up to be whiners and never be anything less than miserable in their behavior.

Give positive attention to non-whiny behaviors and learn to practice refusals calmly against whiny requests. Your toddlers will eventually understand that they need to ask you properly in a reasonable manner to get what they want.

Here are a few tips to help you maintain a smiling happy child:

Put a face to it: Toddlers are often unaware of what whining is even if they are doing it almost constantly. Show them what it looks like. Record it to make them hear what it sounds like. They will help your children identify whining.

Don’t give in easily: Be consistent in parenting and don’t give in to silly requests when your toddlers are whining. Show them that it doesn’t pay. Otherwise, it may send the wrong impression to the children about the way to get things done and only make things worse.

Structure their day: The more organized your children’s day is, the less likely they are to get bored and restless. The latter often trigger off whining. Keep them busy with interesting activities and games.

Reward good behavior: When your children ask for something nicely or behave well, they should be acknowledged and rewarded for showing signs of maturity.