Month: December 2018

Coping with Tough Moments

From taking first steps to drinking from a cup, learning how to navigate the world can come with challenges! When tears or frustration arise, help your child handle these feelings by practicing some basic coping skills. As your little one grows and is better able to cope with challenging situations, they will become resilient and be more prepared to handle other difficult ones in the future and will be more likely to bounce back from setbacks.

Life with a toddler can be a rollercoaster!

Help your child develop Grit, which is the ability keep going during tough times, to build resilience and be ready to take on life’s challenges.

• Although there are lots of things that your child can’t do without you, there are tons of opportunities for them to start practicing age-appropriate tasks on their own.

• Let your two-year-old pick out their own clothes and practice dressing themselves. When they get stuck in their shirt, put their pants on inside out, or can’t get their shoe on, resist the urge to swoop in and do it for them. Remind them that they are doing a great job and encourage them to keep trying.

Recognize their limits! There will be times when no amount of cheerleading will help your little one to calm down and try again. 

When your toddler starts to unravel:

Stay calm! It’s completely natural to feel overwhelmed and ready to scream yourself, but much of how your little one learns to cope comes from how you respond to them when they are upset. Be a model for your toddler by taking a deep breath and speaking calmly.

Have your little one “take space.” If your toddler becomes frustrated with a task, and their coping skills just aren’t cutting it, remove them from the situation for a few minutes to give their body a chance to calm down. Let them know that once they’re calm enough to try again, you will be there to support them.

Revisit what was upsetting your child after they have calmed down. Help them find the words to describe their feelings and brainstorm ways that they can cope better in the future.

Creating Strong Connections for your toddler

From bath time to eating to getting dressed – your toddler still relies on you. Your relationship with your child forms the foundation for the development of strong, caring bonds with others. Having supportive people in their life will help your toddler know that they have a safety net during the tough times and will be more likely to be resilient and bounce back from challenges.

1.  Your child interacts with many people, especially if they are in a child care setting or organized social activities. Other people in your child’s life are important sources of support. Encourage these connections.

2.  While you help your child build strong connections to people around them, remember to pay attention to how your child responds to new and unfamiliar situations and people. Each child has their own temperament, which can influence how they form these connections.

• Some toddlers are excited about unfamiliar things, while others are hesitant and need some extra time to feel comfortable.
• Temperament is not something that your toddler chose, so be mindful of how they are viewing and interacting with the world around them, as it may be very different from your own temperament or that of their siblings or peers.

For more tips on helping your toddler form connections, click here.