By Shelley Feldman, edHelperBaby
The Laws and Lessons of Successful Parenting
This is the month when you need to dig deep within, and be the most patient, loving, creative, humorous, enthusiastic and "in-tune" parent imaginable. The most important skill that you must now perfect, is to teach your toddler how to be the best little person he can be, while simultaneously extinguishing his negative behaviors and boosting his ego along the way. As you can imagine...this can be quite a feat. Everything that you do with your toddler right now will impact his development, for better and for worse, so make every second count and enjoy each moment that the two of you share.
There are several simple "laws" that may help guide you towards being a more successful parent, and they are also wonderful lessons to teach your toddler that will last a lifetime.
- Law number one is to remember that everything and anything is possible. As soon as a parent begins to think they can't...they don't and won't.
- Law number two, treat others (including your children) how you would like to be treated yourself, and do nice things for people solely for the sake of doing nice things.
- Number three, think before you act, however don't think too much that you get stuck in your thoughts, and don't be frightened to let your heart just lead the way sometimes.
- Law number four says that it's alright to take chances and go out on a limb...life is a journey and sometimes the best lessons occur when you least expect it.
- And lastly, law number five...everyone has a purpose and a lesson to teach, so be sure to keep your eyes, ears and heart open because the greatest teachers often come in the smallest of packages, and he is probably standing right in front of you, or hanging on your leg.
Building Your Toddler's Self-Esteem
Although your child's self-esteem may appear to wax-and-wane with life's typical ups-and-downs, she is beginning to develop a positive or negative "attitude" about herself along the way. From the first moment that your toddler realizes you love her just because she merely exists in this world, her self-esteem begins to flourish. This unconditional and unwavering feeling of love is the foundation on which your toddler's feelings about herself will continue to grow. You have been provided with an amazing opportunity to really make a difference in the future, so give it your all.
Because you are the essential component in the development of your toddler's self-esteem, there are many things that you can do to make a difference in a positive way. To start, be very aware of how you approach your toddler when you talk. Often at this age, actions speak much louder than words, so get in touch with your posture, tone of voice and facial expressions before you have a heart-to-heart or just want to get your little one's attention.
Secondly, by simply spending time...quality time...with your toddler, you are drastically improving and reinforcing her self-esteem. In fact, it is recommended that you spend at least 1 hour on the floor playing with your child at this age, even if it's just "hanging out" and not "doing" anything. Sometimes as parents we get so caught up in going places and seeing things, that we often forget how to keep things simple and just "be."
Lastly, show respect for your toddler's feelings, listen carefully to her needs, and give her an opportunity to express her opinions. This is not saying that you should not set limits and she should not follow your rules, but it will reinforce that her thoughts and desires are valid...just not always appropriate or timed very well.
This month, your toddler is starting to finally believe that she is capable of doing things once thought insurmountable. Furthermore, she is slowly beginning to prepare herself to step outside her safety zone and explore the world. Right now, her self-esteem is on the rise and she feels more powerful than ever, so use this as an opportunity to teach her how to channel all of her energy in a healthy way.
Have you begun to wonder...
Why is it important to be a "playful parent"?
Playing with your toddler is an essential component of being a parent, and it is during this time that some of life's most valuable lessons will be learned. By joining your 26-month-old in her little world, you will both be able to connect with one another on a completely different level than that which occurs during other interactions.
Roughhousing, goofing-around, and letting your toddler take the lead will not only re-affirm the bond that already exists between the two of you, but it will also pave the way to tackle emotional difficulties, or any other bumpy patches that the two of you may encounter as she grows up.
After spending a little time with your toddler down on her level, you may learn a thing or two about your toddler that you didn't know before, and you may even have to re-think your disciplining techniques after figuring out what really makes her tick. Life takes on a whole new perspective from 3 feet off the ground, and what you thought was working may need a little tweaking once you get down there.
Finally, being a more playful parent is a wonderful way to break away from the seriousness of the world that faces us every time we step out the front door. There is no better cure for a rough day at work, or a difficult day at home with the kids than shaking your sillies out, so go ahead-sit on the floor, and laugh.
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