Each new phase of life and development for your child brings with it joy and challenges. The toddler years (ages one through three, specifically) can often be especially difficult for even the most seasoned parents. Here are a few tips for navigating the exciting, though sometimes chaotic, toddler years with your little one:
Embrace Boundary Setting
While your child’s toddler years may bring a newfound sense of independence and assertiveness, it can make boundaries especially important. Intentionally setting clear and consistent boundaries (and sticking to them!) helps your child navigate situations where it’s okay to say “no” versus when the parent’s authority must be respected. Being gentle but firm with these boundaries can go a long way in helping your child understand the why behind your rules so that they don’t feel overly restricted.
Setting Routines
Having a consistent schedule can be beneficial for children of all ages, but during the toddler years this structure can be particularly beneficial. Establishing a consistent wake up and bedtime, mealtimes, and times for play and learning can help children feel more comfortable in their day-to-day life, reducing potential anxieties caused by unexpected plans. While flexibility is also an important life skill, prioritizing routine in these early years in your child’s development helps provide a strong foundation for the development of more enhanced skills later in life.
Fostering Language Skills
Your child’s toddler years are likely when they’re also finding their voice and learning the basics of language and communication. Children often learn best through repetition and mirroring their parents, so communicating often and thoroughly can make a big difference in fostering early language skills. For example, narrating tasks and asking your child open ended questions helps them build both their vocabulary and comprehension skills. These skills are particularly important while navigating conflict or tantrums during the toddler years, as language skills can help little ones understand boundaries, house rules, and when a reaction or behavior is unacceptable.
Practicing Patience through Conflict
Conflict is an inevitable component of the toddler years for many families, and it’s important to practice patience and grace while your child navigates how to express big emotions in healthy ways. Staying composed, even during tantrums, helps model mature problem-solving for your little one. Additionally, acknowledging their emotions while redirecting their emotional reactions to those emotions can help your child build important self-regulation skills.
While the toddler years may seem daunting as a parent, this is an incredible time of growth, learning, and excitement for your little one. Fostering consistency, boundaries, and patience as you and your child navigate this developmental phase helps your child develop crucial language, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.