Setting Limits for Your Toddler
Your journey through parenthood should include a primary focus on setting limits for your child. These limits will help them develop their individuality while creating a blanket of security of around them at the same time. Without limits they will not learn some of the most basic elements of everyday life. Every toddler obviously needs to know not to run out the door and into the street, and not to put their hands up on the stove. The main purpose of setting down ground rules and limits is their safety.
Toddlers are a bundle of joy, but require you to develop a truck load of patience and consistency. Often, when your little one misbehaves it is not just an act of disobedience. They may simply not realize the limits set for them, or they may be trying to determine the exactness of it.
When you are setting limits for your little one try to remember a very important rule of thumb. Discipline does not equal punishment. Try to keep in mind that your goal is their safety, happiness, and for them to learn the rules. It is not to punish them every time it seems they have made a mistake.
This does not mean to let them run rampant and ignore everything you are trying to teach them. However, when they do something that appears to be misbehaving, gently make them aware that there are consequences to the decisions they are making. By only punishing them, they may not realize what it is they are being punished for. They will not learn the important steps in the decision making process.
The limits that you decide to set for your little one should be simple. You don’t want to confuse them. Also, you do not have a rule for every single thing they do every single day. Toddlers need room to experience new things, make their mistakes, learn from them, and grow. This is what the toddler years are all about.
As mentioned, patience and consistency are key attributes to parenting a little one at this age. The limits that you have set need to be consistent so your child will always know what they are. Don’t let it be ok to do something one day, and the next day it be a no-no. This helps them to maintain a feeling of control because they know what is expected of them, and they have the choice to adhere to it. (Of course, there are consequences if they don’t)
When your little one tests you and the limits you have set, they are secretly asking you to show how dependable and consistent you and your limits are.
Don’t fail to set limits because of the fact that you can’t stand to see your little sweetie so upset. Toddlers need small amounts of frustration to learn how to properly deal with it.
Setting and keeping limits for your toddler will help them and you enjoy more rewarding time together. You’ll also be helping teach your little one how to grow, learn, and adapt into the world that they’ll be taking by storm.
