Positive parenting is critical for the healthy development of your children. I never understood how important it is to parent properly. My husband and myself grew up in very dysfunctional households and we knew the importance of breaking the cycles of our past. We wanted to try and become better parents. The first step was wanting to learn how.

It is a learning process for parents as well as their children. I learn every day along with my son. You must realize that as parents you will make mistakes. As long as you consistently grow and are willing to change that is the ultimate goal. Think of the prize as your child becoming a healthy happy adult.

I really took this topic to heart when I discovered some problem areas within my own parenting. This page is important to pass along advice that I learned and read myself. We have to help each other. As always if you ever need any advice or even just want to vent contact me through my contact form. I am here to help.

Keys to Successful Positive Parenting in Toddlers:

* Positive Parenting Tips for 1-2 year olds

• Keep reading books to your toddler daily.
• Ask her to find objects for you or name body parts and objects.
• Play matching games with your toddler.
• Encourage him to explore and try new things.
• Help to develop your toddler’s language by talking with her.
• Encourage your toddler’s curiosity and ability to recognize common objects by taking field trips together to the park or a bus ride. Check out my activities page for ideas.

* Positive Parenting Tips For 2-3 year olds

• Set up a special time to read books with your toddler. See my toddler reading page to understand how important reading is to child development.
• Encourage your child to engage in pretend play.
• Play parade or follow the leader with your toddler.
• Help your child to explore her surroundings by taking her on walks.
• Encourage your child to tell you his name and age.
• Teach your child simple songs like Itsy Bitsy Spider, or other cultural childhood rhymes.

Other Positive Parenting Tips:

Self Esteem

One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is self esteem. Your child's self-esteem is greatly influenced by the quality of time you spend with him and not the amount of time that you spend them. With our busy lives, we are often thinking about the next thing that we have to do, instead of putting 100% focused attention on what our child is saying to us. We often tune them out and then wonder why they start to misbehave. Negative attention in a child's mind is better than being ignored. Even a toddler can pick up on the lack of attention.

Allowing your children to feel Important

You must give your children the feeling of importance. If you don't, they will find inappropriate ways to feel it. Ways to help them feel important and valuable are to ask their advice, give them choices, let them help you bake cookies or cook all our part of a meal, or help you grocery shop. A two-year-old can wash plastic dishes, wash vegetables, or put silverware away. Often we do the job for them because we can do it with less hassle, but the result is they feel unimportant. Let them help... who cares if they make a mess. It is about the quality of time.

Separate the Deed from the Child

Never tell a child that he is bad. That tears at his self-esteem. Help your child recognize that it isn't that you don't like him, but it is his behavior that you are unwilling to tolerate. In order for a child to have healthy self-esteem, he must know that he is loved unconditionally no matter what he does. Do not motivate your child by withdrawing your love from him. When in doubt, ask yourself, did my discipline build my child's self-esteem? If your child is testing you through a temper tantrum, it is best if you leave the room or tell the child you will be in the next room if he wants to "try again." Do not leave in anger or defeat. When disciplining, Be Consistent and Follow Through If you have made an agreement that your child cannot buy candy when she gets to the store, do not give in to her pleas, tears, demands or pouting. Your child will learn to respect you more if you mean what you say.

Environment

This one is huge parents. You are the model. Your lives are the model. Be careful what you do and your language around your children. It is important what you expose them to as far as television and people. Remember it is not about "You are the parent and you do what you want." "WRONG" Be a proper example for your children.

It is critical that we start taking a different approach to our parenting. The children are the future and we want to make sure that we as parents are doing our best to raise healthy, loving mature adults. Healthy not only in the physical but the emotional and mental as well. Positive parenting can help place our children on this correct path.

"Click here or on image to learn how to help with Toddler Parenting"

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