Facing tantrums that have you on edge, a toddler stuck on “nope”, or daily power struggles that make you question your sanity - does this sound like your life?
If your toddler is hitting others, throwing things, screaming or they can’t seem to calm down after things tick them off, you might not know how to respond.
It’s a lot, and it’s normal to feel worried about your bond with your child. I can help!
In Montessori, we say that young children have to develop self-discipline first and foremost. Around 2-3 years old they are starting to learn the crucial skills of how to listen to and follow their inner guide, say “no”, make themselves heard and push to discover the boundaries of their interaction with the world. This is called the crisis of affirmation / opposition. Our role is to guide them gently, respecting this necessary stage while setting reasonable boundaries, and to make it clear what our (and the world’s) expectation of their behavior is, so they can learn.
Here are some quick tips:
- Use positive words, and fewer of them: instead of “get off the table! we don’t climb the table in our house!” try “no. feet on the floor please.”
- Physically remove them or stop them as soon as you can if they start doing something destructive or that is against the rules you’ve set.
- Think of your spaces and routines - where can you give your child more freedom?
- Pick your battles so you can be very consistent with the limits you’re setting.
- Set up a cosy spot and practice rituals that they can use to calm down on their own.
As an AMI-certified Montessori 0-3 guide and your parenting sidekick, I can help you understand and manage your child’s behavior in a way that is developmentally appropriate and rebuild connection through firm and kind discipline. Book a free 15-min call with me, share your challenges, and let’s create a custom plan together.