Child Behavior Suggestions - Cleaning up their Mess

Are you tired of your kids acting like royalty around the house? Making a mess of their rooms as they throw away their clothes and food, expecting you to go picking after them?


Enough is enough - pull yourself out of the mess by teaching your toddlers to help. Its time for Operation Clean Up! As a parent, the following steps will certainly help with the clean up:

• STEP 1: Make an announcement. Let your toddlers know that it's time to clean up. Give them a specific place to put the toys - a plastic tub or a toy box will do fine. Place the container in the middle of the room.


• STEP 2: Using a loud voice, say "Look at this huge mess. Is there anyone who can help me?" as you are setting the container down. A toddler’s attention tends to pick up this tone. You can also make up and sing a cleanup song to get them into the swing. Remember to be happy and positive about the task.


• STEP 3: By means of demonstration, pick up some toys on the floor and place them in the container. All the while you can continue with the singing and coaxing.


• STEP 4: Now is the time to ask your children to (please) pick up a specific toy. Thank them when they start placing toys in your hand or in the container.


• STEP 5: Always keep a back-up plan, as a consequence for not helping. Give them a timeout or better still, you can threaten to take away one of their treasured items till they start cleaning up.


• STEP 6: Warn the toddlers only once and then follow through with the consequence they don’t help.


• STEP 7: Continue cleaning up the toys until all of the toys are picked up.

Related Article: Kids Activities

Tips on How to Deal with Toddler Tantrums

Toddlers may throw tantrums from time to time. As a parent, you have no choice but to put up with it or try to subdue your toddler. Most parents usually ending up taking action with the idea that stopping the behavior quickly is important in developing good habits. However, try to correct a child in a way that corrects the behavior in a positive and loving way.


Tantrums most frequently occur between the ages of two and five. Before you can curb toddler tantrums, you need to know the causes behind them:

• Fatigue or hunger pangs
  


• Lack of proper attention
  


• Not getting what they desire
  


• Unhappiness or frustration

Here are some tips on how to deal with your toddlers’ tantrums:

• Do not pay attention to tantrums: Your toddler is looking for a reaction from you. If he does not get it, he may just move on.
  


• Encourage quiet and balanced behavior: This will also indicate to your child that throwing tantrums is not productive.
  


• Allow other alternatives: This will prevent situations where toddlers might feel trapped and allow them to get in control of the situation by exercising their choice on the matter. Try to provide your child with options that give the impression that he is exercising free will. “Would you like to put your pajamas on first or brush your teeth first?” “Would you like to eat carrots or peas?” Would you like to put on your socks first or your shirt?” While none of these questions are real choices for an adult, a child will feel more control and will often willingly follow through because 'he has decided what to do next.'

Improve Your Baby's Table Manners

Babies can act like cavemen at the dinner table and be perfect savages even at their own birthday party. They will do it when they are angry; they do it to show their love. Reasons aside, teaching them proper table manners will be the first step towards the lifelong discipline and etiquette that should sooner-not later-be second nature to your child. Remember, the more disciplined and consistent you are, the more disciplined and consistent your child will be. Breaking the rules from time to time may only serve to confuse your child.

Here are some basic table rules you also need to follow. Children can only learn by example:

• Make sure meals are quiet-no lecturing at the table.
• No arguments and raised voices.
• No playing with food. Gently but firmly discourage your baby from throwing food around at the table.
• Use gentle and clear words such as 'please' and 'thank you' to ask for anything desired.
• Offer babies small portions at regular intervals and show appreciation when they 'clean' their plates.
• Familiarize your baby with eating with forks and spoons. The best way to do this is to let your child see you using them.

At the Restaurant

• Order your child's food first to prevent long waits. This will prevent your child from becoming bored or impatient.
• Make sure your baby is well rested and hungry when you arrive at the table.
• Don't reprimand your child in public.
• Take your baby for a short stroll if you notice any signs of crankiness.

Well-behaved children are a joy to have around you. On the other hand, misbehaved children are a constant source of worry, trouble and unhappiness. Therefore, parents need to encourage good and balanced behavior in their children not only for their own benefit but also for the benefit of the children themselves and the society in which they are being brought up. Find more articles related on tips to help you discipline your toddler in a positive way without being harsh or cruel.

How Can You Discipline Your Child Gently?

Well-behaved children are a joy to have around you. On the other hand, misbehaved children are a constant source of worry, trouble and unhappiness. Therefore, parents need to encourage good and balanced behavior in their children not only for their own benefit but also for the benefit of the children themselves and the society in which they are being brought up.

As children grow and explore newer activities, it becomes necessary to exercise at least some level of authority over them. Parents need to teach their toddlers to accept authority when it is communicated to them. The trick to disciplining your toddler is to be firm, yet gentle. Remember, you are doing it for your toddler’s good.

Here are some tips to help you discipline your toddler in a positive way without being harsh or cruel:

• Give clear directives: Leave no room for miscommunication while giving instructions to your child.

• Be practical: Be aware regarding what constitutes normal behavior at your child's age. Set realistic expectations based on this knowledge.

• Be committed: Stick by your words no matter what. If you are not consistent and or give in too easily, chances are your toddler will not take you seriously.

• Practice what you preach: If you routinely do something that you have defined as incorrect, your toddler will not understand why there are different rules for you. Make it a point to use "please" and "thank you" yourself, for instance, in order to get your child to use them. You may even give your toddler the chance to correct you if you do not follow the rules you make.

• Understand the mental level of your toddler: You need to explain the consequences of undisciplined behavior in a manner that is comprehensible to your child.