Toddler Discipline

Transform Terrible Twos Into Terrific Twos (And Threes)

I didn't think toddler discipline was ever going to be an issue with me. But, when my daughter turned two and found her passion for independence and control, the challenge to maintain control as a parent presented itself fiercely.

I was serious about balancing discipline with love, but my efforts weren’t enough. I needed to learn what to do, what to say, and how. I began searching for help in the area of toddler discipline.

I learned important discipline techniques to be more effective with time-outs, stay calm and in control, and be consistent.

Getting through my toddler's tantrums was ugly, exhausting, and stressful, but we made it through! I didn't give up or stay down. My daughter was stubborn, but I had to be more stubborn.

"Bring It On!"

I remember laying in bed at night, actually looking forward to the next day and any challenges my daughter would give me. I anticipated another chance to put into practice the toddler discipline techniques I had learned.

I wanted to get through it and master it so badly that I confronted it 100%. I wasn't going to let things slide. It was conquer it or bust!

I stuck to my "guns", principles, and techniques with everything I had in me - and it took everything! The more consistent I was, the faster the desired results came.

The Blame Game

Honestly, and maybe you can relate, I often wondered how my toddler's temper compared to that of other children. There must be other children who just have calmer genes and are more laid back...

Other parents just don't know what it's like to have such a feisty and independent child, and on and on. Sometimes, a small part of me still wants to defend myself and declare that. :)

Well, the fact of the matter is that it doesn't matter! There are different factors involved in a child's behavior and we can only focus on the child we have. The most important thing to factor in is our part of the deal.

We are able to make more positive change than we let ourselves believe. The problem is we get stuck in ruts and don't see a clear (and easy) way out.

Shifting Gears

Learning to administer child discipline can seem overwhelming, but it's something you can and must do. Shift into a higher gear and be consistent. You can do it!

When my daughter was about one and a half years old, we endured a 15-minute stand off one day. She was being disobedient and out of anger threw a toy across the floor.

We stood there, her in defiance and me in determination, until she picked up the toy and gently put it back. It was just one of many small steps taken to break the spirit of rebellion that doesn't do anyone any good.

Read up on my child discipline page for more personal experiences and techniques for molding your child's behavior.

Final Note On Toddler Discipline

It was always my goal and priority to have a well-mannered and well-behaved child. I just needed a little help to do that.

I have heard a few times before that the "twos" are bad, but the "threes" are worse. Well, that may be true, if you're not effective during the "twos".

I want to encourage you that what's bad about your child's behavior doesn't have to get worse. I am exceedingly glad to say that my experience with my daughter at three was much better than when she was two.

Make no mistake about it. It was not a fluke that her behavior turned around. Yes, she is maturing and learning to communicate better, but let's not forget all the hard work that I did and continue to do.

Keep learning and growing and adjusting so you can create positive change in your life.

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