Dealing With A Stubborn Child!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding for as long as possible. Growing up milks are formulated to meet nutrition needs of healthy young children older than 1 year and should not be fed to infants.

Stubbornness is a common personality trait among toddlers, or more precisely, a character flaw that 1 to 3 years old children develop because of their incapacity to deal with their stress in healthy positive ways.

To prevent your tot’s stubbornness from turning into a chronic behavioral illness that can last a lifetime, try the following tips that will help you deal with the issue and teach your child reasonable ways to handle everyday challenges and stress:

• Don’t argue with your child, don’t shout at him nor force him to change. Toddlers are not aware of accepted social behaviors and proper ways to handle life problems.
• Be patient with your kid. Observe him very carefully and try to determine what annoys him and triggers him to show stubborn behavior.
• Try gently communicating with your child when he’s angry. Talking at this point can distract him and reduce his discomfort.
• When you ask anything from your tot, make sure he’s not occupied by an activity he loves. That way, you will be able to stop him from throwing a tantrum.
• When your toddler stubbornly refuses to do what you asked of him, give him options to choose from so he can feel that his opinion matters to you.
• Try your best to keep your calm when your child shows stubborn behavior or refuses to follow your orders. Let him learn from his own mistakes and experiences, when possible.
• Make your home a happy comfortable place where your toddler can freely express his thoughts and learn understanding, compassion and mutual respect.
• Put yourself in your child’s shoes; look into the arguments he uses to support his behavior and promise to fix what you consider reasonable and justifiable.
• Praise and reward your toddler whenever he listens to you or behaves properly

In addition to all these tips, remember to model the good behavior, by acting gently and openly with people around you. Your toddler is observing you and learning from you all the time!

Read More: Tips To Raise An Independent Child