40 Weeks to Forever
Parenting - The Good, The Bad, & Taming Toddler Tantrums
Episode Summary
Kids don’t come with a manual—but wouldn’t it be nice if they did? In this episode, Judith chats with Michelle from Thriving Toddler about how to keep your cool while taming toddler tantrums. You’ll learn all about self-regulation, getting curious about behaviors, how to deal with separation anxiety—and so much more!
Episode Notes
- 1:02- Mom Montage
- 2:52- How to identify your parenting style
-get on the same page as your partner
-ask yourself what you want to take from your own upbringing and what you want to leave behind - 4:28- Understanding the difference between right from wrong
-will see a cognitive shift around the age of 3 - 6:15 – Strategies for dealing with challenging behavior and big emotions in your kids
-minimize your reaction
-redirect - 10:22- How to deal with a meltdown when your parenting tactics aren't working -label emotions
-validate + label your child's feelings and emotions
-we are teaching them all emotions are welcome but not all behaviors are welcome
-rate or scale your child emotions
-ride it out with them to help them calm their body until they are ready - 14:25- Why parenting during the toddler years takes patience and consistency
-self-regulation takes time and repetition
-keep doing it despite how difficult it is
-check-in with yourself [get enough sleep, stay hydrated, eat well] to set yourself up for success - 16:19 – Experiencing fake crying? This is how you should respond.
-get curious, what is this behavior trying to communicate?
-what happened right before this fake crying?
-is the child bored? Then provide them with choices of alternate activities. - 20:03 – How to deal with your “slow to warm up” child
-be relaxed, our kids pick up on our energy
-use a gradual approach—don't rush things
-allow them to stay close to you as their “safe person”
-validate what they might be feeling
-read their body language and cues + follow their lead
-narrate how proud you are of them when they do warm-up or take on the activity - 25:00 – Tips for transitioning your child to daycare
-use personal stories
-use images to narrate - this is your pre-school, and this is your teacher
-use a transition object [if allowed]
-ask the pre-school about their approach
-always talk about the reunion so that your child knows what to expect
-remember that separation anxiety and crying [at first] is normal - 29:53 – How to get your little ones to become independent with age-appropriate tasks
-at first, you may need to prompt them often
-as they begin to get better remove the number of prompts you are providing
-know that it is going to take a lot of repetition and trials for them to become independent - 33:25- So, you screwed up? Michelle explains why the repair with your children is so important.
- 35:40- How to break the cycle of anger or to make changes in how you want to parent your children.
Confidence Corner
Product 1: Toddler Monitor
Product 2: BabyBjorn Potty Chair
About our Guest
Michelle is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst who is passionate about educating parents. She shares evidence-based strategies that will have you feeling confident and empowered to raise happy, healthy, and emotionally balanced children. Michelle is also the voice [and scientific brain] behind Thriving Toddler and co-hosts the podcast Parenting Understood. She is also a mom of two so she “gets it.”
Connect
@thriving.toddler
@parentingunderstood
Learn More
@snugglebugzbaby
snugglebugz.ca