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Teaching your toddler to clean-up his toys
Sometimes it seems to be impossible to get your toddler to clean up his toys. That is normal. Encouraging your child to cooperate and complete chores can sometimes be frustrating.
Try to avoid a battle of wills:
Warn your child ahead of time that "soon it will be time to tidy up."
Make it into a game or something you do together. For example, "how fast can we get the toys cleaned up?" or "let's put these toys to sleep" - make it something you can enjoy together. Cleaning up doesn't have to be the end of your fun together or the end of play.
Encourage your child to participate in making decisions. For example, allow your child to choose between picking up the stuffed animals or putting away the blocks. Allowing him to have some choice will communicate to your child that you respect his individuality. If children feel that they have some control, then they are more likely to cooperate.
Recognize your child's contribution toward helping clean up and acknowledge her positive behaviours.
Remember to set limits and be consistent. It may seem easier to clean up yourself, rather than taking the time to make sure your child participates in chores. However, this creates the risk of encouraging further stalling and delays during clean-up in the future. Be patient and remember that learning to complete chores cheerfully takes a long time.
How did you encourage your toddler to clean up his toys? What worked and what didn’t? Leave a comment below and share your story with other parents just like you.
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Preventing Tantrums at Home with Comfort, Play & Teach
Here are some Comfort, Play & Teach® suggestions for preventing tantrums at home.
Comfort
Ensure your child doesn't become too tired or too hungry. These are the enemies of good behaviour. If your child has had a sleepless night or wasn’t hungry at his last meal, he may become more irritable or cranky. This can put him on the road to a tantrum.
Play
Provide stimulating activities for your baby to do when you need to do things that are boring to her. For example, listening to you talk on the telephone is very boring to your young toddler. Try keeping a basket of toys that your child likes close by for just such occasions. Or, try to involve your child in something close by—even though she is not able to help with cooking, cleaning the car or doing the laundry.
Teach
Stick to your routines—especially those at the end of the day. The late afternoon and early evening are the “witching hour” in many families. At this time, toddlers are a lot more likely to be hungry and tired. If their routine is disrupted, things can go from bad to worse in the blink of an eye. Have nutritious snacks available in case you get stuck in traffic or dinner is unavoidably delayed. Don’t hold off dinner too long—even if you have to eat without one parent present. When you’re tired, keep the bath, book and bed routine in place. The last thing you need when you are tired is a screaming baby.
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Making mornings more pleasant for your toddler
Here are several strategies that may help make your mornings a little easier on everyone:
It's important to allow enough time in the morning so that you don't have to rush, even if it means getting up a bit earlier than you already do. This will allow you to stay calm and avoid acting stressed around your child.
Create a workable schedule and explain it to your child, so she knows what to expect in the morning. For example, let your child know she has to get up, get dressed, eat breakfast and leave the house by 7:30 am. It's also a good idea to keep this routine as regular as possible.
Build in a little time for your child to play and give her the feeling she can come back to the game later.
Try to lay out clothes, prepare lunches and pack up anything else that goes with your child the night before.
Try to incorporate some fun into your morning rituals, such as singing songs and just getting a little silly together.
If your child seems tired, reassure him, but explain that he still has to get ready. And as frustrated as you might get, never yell at or physically hurt your child. Lastly, when you drop your child off, let him know that you're not angry with him and make it clear that you are coming back.
How do you get your mornings off to a good start with your toddler? Post your comment below to share your thoughts with other parents!
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Creating Bedtime Routines - Birth to 6 Months
There are things that you can do to help teach your baby the difference between daytime naps and going to bed at night. Karon Foster, a Registered Nurse and Parenting Expert, suggests starting with a consistent bedtime routine from the very first night. “Routines really help ready your baby for sleep by gradually decreasing stimulation,” she explains. New parents are often exhausted as they realize that their baby doesn’t know the difference between night and day – meaning many sleepless nights and a big adjustment to their usual sleep schedule.
Here are some suggestions you can follow to create a routine:
- Give your baby a warm bath – keep in mind that some baby’s develop dry or irritated skin when bathed daily, so this may not work for your child.
- Give your baby a massage.
- Dress your baby in different clothing at bedtime, such as pajamas.
- Make sure your baby has a dry diaper.
- Read a book to your baby (even though baby doesn’t really know what you’re reading, this can be comforting and it is a way to bond).
- Quietly sing a lullaby or play soothing music.
- Keep the lighting low – use a night light or draw the blinds.
- Keep the room at a comfortable temperature.
- Feed your baby.
- Walk, rock or cuddle to help relax and calm your baby.
If your baby wakes up, always respond. Once you’ve figured out and solved the reason for waking – hunger, wet diaper, etc. – keep talking and other stimulation to a minimum. This will make it easier for your baby to settle again.
For more about bedtime routines, see the following articles:
- Good Night Habits – Before Night Time
- Good Night Habits – At Bedtime
- Good Night Habits – During the Night
Click here to learn more about your baby and sleep.
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What is your bedtime routine? How has it changed as your baby has grown? Share your story with other parents by leaving a comment below!
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