8 Positive Discipline Techniques for Toddlers
Raising a toddler can be a challenging experience for any parent. Toddlers are full of energy and curiosity, and they often test boundaries and push the limits of what is acceptable behavior. As a parent, it is important to set boundaries and provide consistent discipline to help your toddler learn how to behave. Positive discipline techniques can help you teach your toddler appropriate behavior in a way that is respectful and effective.
1. Set Clear Expectations
The first step in positive discipline is to set clear expectations for your toddler. Explain to your toddler what behavior is expected of them and why it is important. Make sure your expectations are age-appropriate and realistic. For example, you can explain to your toddler that it is important to stay close to you when you are out in public so that you can keep them safe.
2. Use Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is a great way to encourage your toddler to behave in the way you want them to. When your toddler does something that is in line with your expectations, reward them with praise or a small treat. This will help them understand that their good behavior is appreciated and will encourage them to continue to behave in the same way.
3. Give Choices
Giving your toddler choices can help them feel empowered and in control of their own behavior. For example, if your toddler is refusing to put on their shoes, you can give them the choice of which shoes they would like to wear. This will help them feel like they have some control over the situation and will make them more likely to cooperate.
4. Use Natural Consequences
Natural consequences are a great way to teach your toddler about cause and effect. For example, if your toddler refuses to put on their shoes, you can explain that if they don’t put them on, they won’t be able to go outside and play. This will help them understand that their actions have consequences and will encourage them to make better choices in the future.
5. Redirect Their Behavior
Redirecting your toddler’s behavior is a great way to help them learn appropriate behavior. If your toddler is engaging in an inappropriate behavior, such as hitting, you can redirect them to a more appropriate activity, such as playing with a toy. This will help them understand that their behavior is not acceptable and will encourage them to find more appropriate ways to express themselves.
6. Model Appropriate Behavior
It is important to remember that your toddler is watching and learning from you. Modeling appropriate behavior is a great way to teach your toddler how to behave. Show them how to express their emotions in a healthy way and how to treat others with respect.
7. Take Timeouts
Timeouts can be an effective way to help your toddler calm down and regain control of their emotions. If your toddler is engaging in inappropriate behavior, take them to a quiet place and explain why their behavior is not acceptable. Give them a few minutes to calm down and then talk to them about how they can handle the situation differently in the future.
8. Stay Calm
It is important to stay calm when disciplining your toddler. Yelling or getting angry will only make the situation worse and will not help your toddler learn how to behave. Take a few deep breaths and try to remain calm so that you can effectively communicate with your toddler.
FAQs
Q: What are some positive discipline techniques for toddlers?
A: Some positive discipline techniques for toddlers include setting clear expectations, using positive reinforcement, giving choices, using natural consequences, redirecting their behavior, modeling appropriate behavior, taking timeouts, and staying calm.
Q: How can I help my toddler learn appropriate behavior?
A: You can help your toddler learn appropriate behavior by setting clear expectations, using positive reinforcement, giving choices, using natural consequences, redirecting their behavior, modeling appropriate behavior, taking timeouts, and staying calm.
as a 17yo, I'd love if my parents did that and, if I do have any children, I'll do that
Can this technique fail even when practiced on perfection?
Time outs don’t work. When are people going to get this.
Kids in timeout are NEVER thinking about what they did wrong and what they can do better. The only thing they are thinking is that it’s so unfair and that their parent is mean.
Have a listen to Janet landsbury or Muma Manon
https://youtu.be/wKXz72lpM3M
Great
Wounderful
This is great! You're doing great, Mom! And I really appreciate this video. Positive discipline is definitely hard! I have found that too much praise can sort of mirror the undesired effects.. when we praise them instead of their deeds (and/or do it too much) they end up doing xyz for the praise, not for the deed/outcome. This will lead to them not working as hard/smart/well on any given thing when they aren't going to get acknowledged for it. It can also lead to entitlement in some cases. Also it can confine how they see themselves. Example: child paints a picture …. "Wow, you did so good on that! You're such an artist, you're so good at art!" … Alternative: "wow look at that artwork! I love the squiggly lines through the circle! How do you come up with that?"
There's lots of recent studies on this! Either way, you're doing great and I really appreciate this video
She shouldn’t suffer? I think this world seriously needs a mindset change. If you have more than one child the parent should take responsibility for the consequences and not be entitled to say how a child should feel or behave. The problem is that people think you can have 2,3,4 kids and then blame them for whatever behaviour. This world is not designed for parents to go and make as many children THEY want. Be happy if you even have one! Because the fact is that you actually do not have the capacity to raise more than one, maximum two. There are enough children in this world without parents and who are starving. So people! Change your mindset, get out of your heads and face the truth. This bubble everyone is living about having a family life has seriously made people irrealistic and ignorant. Parents, I you don’t have the capacity then do not invite more suffering.
It takes communication skills, compassion and LOVE to raise a child! Not words like, naughty, needy, clingy. Then don’t have them!
Please do not use the thinking step. I know it seems like you’re doing a good thing, but you’re not. You’re just teaching your children that when they get emotional, they’ll have to suck it up and not express it. It’s a punishment. Please just try to talk about it to them and figure out the cause, and if they are unable to calm down, distract them with something that makes them feel less bad. I had a thinking step when I was a child, and even though my parents only put me there for 2 minutes, i genuinely thought it was hours and it was extremely traumatising to just get sent away when you try to express negative emotions. I still struggle with expressing emotions to my parents, whenever I get upset I just walk away and lock myself up in my room and it feels very isolating.
Thanks for sharing your tips. I like "Positive Language encourage positive behavior". Thanks
I went to bed defeated yesterday, this video has given me hope.
My 19 month old acts like she's trying to get back in my womb! 😭
Love these tips! Thanks for sharing! ❤❤❤
Thank you for sharing. I agree with all the points, except for the reward with a star or something for them to do what they are supposed to do. I believe that getting them to do something for the real reason and not because a star is a better way of discipline . For example, if they need to put the toys away they should know that doing so it is easier for them to find the toys later and avoid accidents like somebody step on them. It might take time for them to understand, but I we shouldn't underestimate their understanding skills, really.
This techniques don't sound like positive discipline that is written about by Jane Nelsen
Has anyone experienced their two year old joy wanting to sit in the thinking area ? How did you get them to stay there ?
Thanks for sharing. Appreciate it. Realized that my parenting methods are wrong and selfish. Will try your suggestion. Thank you.
Dislike because too wordy and lengthy
It is interesting video, but I don't think some of those techniques align with positive discipline. At least not the way I understand it or been expose to it. For example rewards in form of stars or so while I understand they can be helpful in short term they create the need for external motivation to do something, and eventually that stops working. I see doing things around home more as a being part of the family, although without forcing of course. Toddlers naturally want to be tidy and help around, untill they outgrow that stage. But I do acknowledge that my view on some of mentioned techniques might be different as we try to follow also Montessori philosophy and attachment parenting/natural parenting.
video starts at 2:16
I once heard another way of looking at positive language that stuck with me.. and like you said, instead of saying "don't go in the leaving room with dirty shoes on" tell them what to do, because they literally don't know what you want them to do!! And now I just always tell them what to do instead of having to say no, don't do that. And that eliminates so much stress.
These are great!
What great content thanks for this 👍
What are some skills to teach toddlers?
Is it too much for your's to take out the trash?
https://youtube.com/shorts/W0zwrfsHDgc?feature=share
Rewards and sending children to time out are actually strongly discouraged in Positive Discipline.
One of the things I started doing when I was nannying was I would use a 5 minute hourglass for timeout, that way they could watch the sand and calm themselves down, but also they know when the hourglass is up, they're time out is also up. And ill ask them "ok do you want to come join us again or do you need more glitter time" ( I had a sparkly hourglass). I think its rly important that kids don't associate time outs as shameful, but as a place to calm down and re-assess their emotions.
When you’ve been raised in an environment of negativity, spankings, and even abuse, this is so hard to do but not impossible! Positive parenting / gentle parenting has truly changed our lives but Ive learned it takes practice and not to beat myself up. I’ve learned you get better everyday! We’re learning with our children and it’s a beautiful thing. ❤️
this is great! i've felt frustration and wanting to avoid my niece and nephew more and more as i've been babysitting them because of what i believe is insecurity in my ability to guide, lead and develop them despite knowing i want to do it using positivity. This helped me so much and I cant wait to practice these tips into habit; i'm excited to babysit next week! And i'll be watching more of your videos. Thank you
You wanna be more in the moment? Get out from behind your phone 🤷♀️
starts at 3:00
All of this is wonderful. Exactly what I need to do! ❤️
It's hard to find the right balance between loving patience and constructive firmness, you know?
Thank you for the useful tips
I think that give a gold medal for good behavior will encourage kids to do sth for rewarding and not for understanding the reason behind the action.
One thing I practice is to always apologize for my mistakes. It lets my son know I am human too, and that what I did was wrong. It doesn't give me the excuse to always act poorly, but on the circumstances that I do, it's important to acknowledge that.
It's done I've found the right site no need to search
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY'S AND YOUR TEAM😊,ALLAH SAVE ALL PEOPLE'S😷
I’m an 11 year old and I can confirm that these techniques would work on a child. Thanks for putting this out I believe no child should have to suffer from bad parenting.
Hello, on your Star example, some might see this as bribing.
For adults at work its an "incentive." EX "If you turn in your work early and are finished with everything you can leave early for the day" Incentive!
INCENTIVE: "a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something." BRIBE: "persuade (someone) to act in one's favor" so very similar and I think often confused!
I will remove naughty from my communication and hope to see the difference.
This is beautiful. I love that you honestly said you are only human. We all make mistakes but we grow when we learn from them. We improve when we grow from them. We don't just sit on what we have done and continue in it. We fail, we learn, we grow, we move on.
I like when you said about being positive and staying positive because children can sense negativity and a good heart
Finally a parenting video with a comment section…!! How can anyone trust a video that’s meant to be informational without an open discussion?? Thank you!
Hi ms, your channel is very informative, i hope one day i can be collab with you:))
Hi…
Thank you for sharing your positive discipline techniques…
I love it…
God bless…
What i need now
This was Super helpful thank you so much!
Hi I like your channel you seem really genuine I really struggle with what to do with my little one, like you said you were on the floor all day with her what do you actually do my little one is 21 months there’s only so much to play and how do you get you know, life accomplished house laundry etc? Thanks so much for any help you may have on this. thanks so much for your channel!!
I subscribed at 2 and 3 year old