Toddler Years

Here’s what The Parenting Doctor™ recommends about parenting your Toddler.

ME DO IT! THE TERRIFIC TWO’S!

From one to three years of age, your child becomes a bull in a china shop – trying everything, no matter the consequences. The job of a parent and toddler are diametrically opposed. A toddler needs to experiment, repeat, lose control, challenge and become an individual, asking questions through behavior! One of a child’s main developmental tasks in the second year of life is to demonstrate that they are a separate person with a mind of their own. Parents need to protect, set limits, say no, and allow their children to become independent with constant reassurance.

Your toddler has the impulses they were born with and no control over how they react! They think something and immediately act on it! (That new toy looks great and I want it!) Sharing then becomes the hardest concept to grasp at this age, because toddlers cannot yet reason! And parents cannot reasonably figure out why their toddler doesn’t know better! So, to show you he’s his own person, he resorts to using the only tools he has: saying no, doing the opposite of what he’s told, and throwing a tantrum when his efforts fail.

WHAT WOULD DR. ANN SAY?
Kids learn best by repetition. Even though it drives you crazy, keep telling your toddler how to behave. While your toddler grabs, throws tantrums, and pushes their way around, you need to teach them how to stop! Just as important is teaching the behavior that you want. At this age a child also repeats what they hear. Since most parents find themselves saying “no-no” a lot, toddlers throw that word right back at them. Use simple words and gestures to set clear limits for your child.

New Year’s Resolutions…Just Do It!

January of any year is famously all about promises.  At the beginning of the year we usually reflect on the last and resolve to change in the year ahead.  Change is good, it means we are moving forward and not feeling so stuck.  But, where I always get stuck is the ‘talking’ about change instead [...]

Do you believe…in Santa Claus?

My kids are five years apart, so by the time my second was born my first was in kindergarten and well on his way to having other kids opinions influence him.
I will never forget when he came home and told me that his friend Parker told him there was no Santa Claus.  The look on [...]

Got Plans for the Holidays?

I am sure you are already planning where you will be for the holidays, what to buy, what you will donate to others, what parties you will attend, who will be coming over to your house, what to eat for special holiday meals and the list goes on and on.
But, do you have a plan [...]

The Super Nanny is Wrong AGAIN!

Decided to check in on the Super Nanny show for this season after watching and commenting all last season.  I wanted to see if this year’s prime time show was educating parents in accurate and helpful information.  Much to my disappointment the show has not changed one single bit!
Supper Nanny starts out by labeling the [...]

Parents Ask…Because Raising Kids Raises Questions!

www.parentsask.com is a new place to go on the Internet to get interesting, informative, and accurate parenting information.  It’s a place for you to ask questions about your kids.  You talk to other parents, get their opinions and suggestions for any issue you are facing in your family.  You can post a question yourself, ask [...]

Do Six-Year Olds Need Zero Tolerance?

Six year olds are very smart and Zachary Christie is no exception.  But, they are also naïve because of their lack of experience and judgment.  Six year olds love to share, especially something new, love to tell stories and willingly show what they have to authority figures, like teachers and parents.  This is exactly what [...]

Back to Work Doubts

With the kids back in school now for a few weeks, many moms who chose to return to the workforce are having serious doubts over their decision and are starting to wonder if they, or their children, will suffer in the long run.
The topic of staying in the home to raise your children versus working [...]

How to Stop Manipulative Behavior

Does your child manipulate you? Do you ever feel like your child’s in charge and not you? If you answered “yes,” then you’re just like every other parent! But, even though you feel manipulated by your child, you may be surprised to learn that kids do a lot less manipulative behavior than you think.

All parents [...]

Teach Your Kids How to Deal With Bullies

As parents and children across the country begin preparing for ‘Back to School,” kids are feeling nervous about which of their friends (if any) they will be paired up with in their new classrooms and how much homework they’ll face, while parents worry about the safety of their children and if they will become the [...]

Should Kids Run Around Naked?

It’s summer, so there is the temptation to just let your kids run through the sprinklers in the buff or, if they are young enough, just hang out at the beach or the pool without a diaper. But is it okay for your kids to be seen in public naked? And if you do let [...]

Orange County Web Design by Forge Web