Parenting infants and toddlers is amazing, rewarding and frustrating and it can happen all in the same day.
Imagine being a toddler for just a minute…they can’t articulate clearly what you want, they are completely managed by a parent, given food that you might not like, dressed and changed multiple times a day and restricted to the confines of a play pen, bed or high chair.
All very normal and right but it can cause the child to occasionally throw a tantrum and its these moments we find the most difficult.
There are somethings dad you can do to help reduce the stress in your household and possibly make tantrums less frequent, such as:
Love is the first step
Firstly its super important your infant or toddler feels unconditional love. We have spoken before of about providing Attention, Affirmation and Affection to your child, let’s face it who would feel secure and loved if they received the 3 A’s all the time.
Not to many rules
Don’t bombard your child with to many rules, make your home child safe so they can crawl around where ever they want without being told “not’ to do or touch that. It can eliminate one frustration. Your child might start to get frustrated if you are saying “no” all the time, so look for many opportunities to say “yes”.
If you are getting a lot of “no’s” try not to react, simply repeat the request in a nice calm voice. Is there some way you can make what your’e asking your child to do that could be made more fun? All aged children prefer to do tasks that are fun and enjoyable.
Give them choices
If its changing into PJ’s and he or she doesn’t want to, try getting two out for them to choice which one they would prefer to put on. Same goes with going to bed, its always a trigger for pushback. Try getting two books and asking which one will we read tonight?
If there is a power struggle and we know there will be, you can use choices like “Its bed time, would you prefer to brush your teeth or put your Pyjamas on first?
Stick to a routine as if your life depends on it
Children of all ages operate far better if there is a strict routine in the home. So they know exactly what to expect each day, whether it be morning or night. I know it can become boring and mundane but trust me on this one…have routines and scheduled time for things every day and stick to it.
Routines help children feel safe and secure. Because when you introduce things that happen the same time every day, things like waking up, breakfast time, lunch time, dinner time, cleaning your teeth, what time you come home from work, time for a snack or a sleep, it allows the child to trust you and they are left feeling emotionally secure to just play, explore and be a child.
Be a good role model
Set examples, remember you might not think your child is listening but I guarantee they are watching everything you do.
- Your moods
- How you speak to your partner
- How you react to news
- If your an easy push over and don’t stick to routines
- Do you keep the home clean and tidy
- Do you cook nutritious meals
- Are you comforting and nurturing with them
- Are you intentional about the time you spend with them
- Everything you do and say is teaching your child how to behave.
Teaching your infant or toddler new skills
You will find you get push back probably because your child doesn’t know how to do what you are asking?
Teaching them how to perform simple tasks like putting on a jumper, or putting toys away can be a great start. Start teaching them by talking through the instructions of each task whilst you perform them.
“ok Jimmy, lets pick up all the yellow toys and put them back in the box, see 1,2,3. Then we pick up the blue balls and put them in the box, 1 blue ball, 2 blue ball, 3 blue balls, into the box so they can rest for the night and it keeps the room clean and tidy. Why don’t you show me how you can pick up the pencils and put them in the box too?
Teach instruction on everything you do from the earliest age possible and before you know it, you will have a more ready to help child and less tantrums.
What tips or ideas have you got that you could share with other first time dads? Share them below in the comments box.
A fantastic read for new dads! Your tips for parenting infants and toddlers are practical and reassuring. It’s great to see advice that empowers fathers to be actively involved in their child’s early years. Your insights will surely help many dads navigate the challenges and joys of parenthood with confidence. Thanks for sharing this valuable resource!