March, 2010 | Parenting Infants and Toddlers has the Best Parenting Tips

Toddlers are very active as they are experiencing the growing curve. As toddlers, they like to explore many things and are always in a quest of playing around with everything possible. Spending time with toddlers needs a lot of patience because this is the stage where they are trying to learn many new things.

Parenting toddlers is itself a challenging job and it is even more difficult if they are hyperactive. Toddlers often do many things intentionally. Toddlers intentionally misbehave sometimes to draw your attention. You may notice your toddler throw a glass several times in spite of you opposing such act. This may cause a lot of irritation and frustration. It is important to discipline your toddler.

Keep Your Hyperactive Toddler Busy

Hyperactive toddlers have a lot of energy, and do not really understand how to use it. At this stage they end up doing something mischievous and at times dangerous. It is required to keep the hyperactive toddlers busy most of the time. One good way of handling your hyperactive toddler is by finding positive outlets for his/her energy instead of suppressing it. One also needs to divert toddlers from doing any inappropriate action intentionally. This can be best done by rhythmic sounds, or colorful toys or play in the outdoor.

Plan an Outdoor Activity with Your Toddler

Many toddlers these days are fond of going out of home. So they can be taken to a park to spend time running or playing along with other kids. This way they spend a lot of their energy and as a result are prepared to stay calm for the next few minutes. This also helps in keeping their mind fresh. At times distraction can be made with rhythm, so toddler can be allowed to play with toys that make sounds. Many toddlers are usually interested in colors, so they can be taught to paint or play with colors.

It is difficult but yet important to understand when a toddler is misbehaving because of hyper activeness or out of intention. In both the cases, consistent pattern of discipline is important. Toddlers need to be explained their boundaries and the rules. The process of disciplining your toddler starts by adhering to specific rules. These rules should be explained to the toddlers so that they are fully aware of what should be done and what should not be done.

Punishment should be Minimal

If they misbehave after understanding such rules and boundaries, that would be intentional and can be punishable. Such punishment should be simple, only to the extent of making the toddler realize his/her mistake. Toddlers should be appreciated for their good behavior; this shall encourage them to behave properly and also reduces the time and effort in disciplining the toddler.

Preparing for a new born at home involves a lot of emotional thought. A couple expecting their first child may be very excited and also confused as to how to handle the newly born. Parenting is a huge responsibility and plays a vital role in the upbringing of the child therefore many researches were made on the different parenting approaches and different parenting styles. The parenting styles can broadly be classified as three: authoritarian parenting, permissive parenting and authoritative parenting.

Authoritarian Parenting Style

Authoritarian Parenting is the kind of parenting style that was mostly prevalent in the ancient times. The authoritarian parents are ones who have high expectations, talk much about discipline, are strict and in some cases over protective. They give little importance to what the child or children have to say. This parenting style results in the child become very adamant, low in self confidence, less creative and tuned to act as per instructions. This parenting style may also result in the child developing negative traits such as being disrespectful, abusive or indulging in other anti-social acts.

Permissive Parenting Style

Permissive Parenting is one of the different parenting approaches that best suits for encouraging creativeness and spontaneity in children. Parents using this parenting approach give importance to the reasons and thoughts of the children. They are patient enough to understand the child’s difficulty and also encourage their decisions. This parenting style helps boost the confidence levels of the child and also the decision making capabilities. Permissive parents are very supportive towards their children. Permissive parenting is not advisable for aggressive children. This parenting approach sometimes disables the judgment capabilities of children i.e they may not be able to make the right decisions.

Authoritative Parenting Style

Authoritative Parenting is a mix of both Authoritarian Parenting and Permissive Parenting styles. Authoritative Parenting is usually mistaken for Authoritarian Parenting but both are two different parenting styles. Authoritative Parents are neither very authoritative nor permissive. They listen to the child’s reasons and thoughts and guide them in the right manner. This parenting approach allows parents to understand their child very well as this enables them to talk and discuss all the issues pertaining to their child. Authoritative Parents maintain a friendly relationship with their children and encourage them in every stride of life. They also keep the authority of controlling the child when going in a wrong direction. This Parenting approach is said to be the best of all the three parenting styles.

Which Parenting Style Should You Adopt

Parenting is a continuous process till the child is mature enough to understand and handle the ways and means of life independently. Couples turning parents usually use the techniques that were followed by their parents or near ones. Parenting is usually influenced by the lifestyle of the parents, the traditions and rituals of the family, the social status etc. Most importantly the style of parenting needs to be chosen keeping in view the behavioral traits of the child.

No parent can maintain a single parenting style. Parenting keeps changing as per the age, actions and understanding of the child. The best parenting style is the one where you are able to understand your child completely and are able to guide him/her towards a better life.