Insistent Interrupting

A toddler does not need to say
"mummy, mummy, MUMMY!" when they want your attention.

A toddler can be taught to interrupt quietly,
with their lips closed,
and one hand on your arm or leg.

They can be taught to wait quietly until you look at their eyes
and give them your full attention.
This teaches them patience and
respect for the person mummy is speaking to (in person or on the phone).

Practice this in the form of a role playing game,
keeping it short, light and fun.
Your toddler will catch on in a few weeks.
Making life more pleasant for all!!

Happy Hearts

What is the best way to teach and train a toddler's heart?

The calmest, kindest, most effective manner seems to be within the context of a flexible routine.

A fairly predictable day means less 'no' for mum and child and tangible progress can be made.

Happy Hearts can be developed through the teaching of the virtues of kindness, goodness, gentleness, cheeerfulness, helpfulness, quietness, obedience and self-control.

Bit by bit, all day, every day, using each ordinary every day activity as a teaching opportunity.

A Happy Heart makes for a happy toddler!!

Grand Goals

Can you articulate your parenting goal?

Do you know what you are hoping to achieve after 18 odd years of parenting?

I can pretty much sum up my heart desires for my children in a few sentences.
The list is not too long when you focus on the crucuial bits.

What are you doing in this season of your parenting towards you goal?
This month? This week? This day?

We need to know where we are going.
We also need to know how we are going to get there.

Everyday Eternity

What lasts for eternity?

What can I do today that will last for eternity?

Throughout the endless cycle of meals, messes,
maladies and mischief, in my toddler's day,
I can look toward eternity.
To focus my thoughts and energies on the things that truely matter.

I can use this day to teach my toddler a little more kindness,
a little more patience, a little more gentleness.

And not sweat on the temporary small stuff.

Digging Dirt

Toddlers love to potter outside.
My boys in particular loved to dig in the dirt.

Some friends were very organised and had little
gardens of vegies and flowers for their children.

We just had dirt!!

It was their little patch to dig and create as they wished.
To dig roads and tunnels for cars.
To dig dirt for Wombat Stew.
For making mud pies and mud cakes and mud dinners.
To bury treasures.
To create moonscapes.

To imagine and to play.
Just as little boys should.

Calm Consistency

Sometimes I had no idea what to do.

I knew I had to do something, but didn't know exactly what.

Sometimes, later, I decided that I had chosen the wrong path.

That was okay, I would try something else next time.

Responding calmly was 'how' I would consistently do the 'what'.
To model self-control to my child. To model gentleness.
To demonstrate my love.

Calm consistency reaps peaceful fruit. Eventually.

Angry Anger

Where do you sit on the whole 'expresing emotions' spectrum?

Should toddlers be encouraged to express their feelings and frustrations to
enhance their individuality and honesty?

Should toddlers be encouraged to show restraint in regard to negative
emotions to suppress these undesirable urges?

Which path is a stepping stone to future socially acceptable behaviour?

For me?
My toddlers were welcome to be as grumpy as they liked.
Sitting on their bed.

A happy face and a cheerful spirit were welcome in all other parts of the house.
Worked amazingly well.