Discipline: Dual Personalities and Another Tactic for Difficult Behaviour

I’ve been told that the teachers at school think Gavin is a very well behaved, polite and well-spoken little boy.  As proud as I am to hear such praise for my son, I often wonder why he can’t behave a little more like that when he’s at home.  When I shared the news with my

Toddlers and the "Why" Stage

Invariably, all toddlers go through a phase where they start to ask that dreaded “why” question – or at least a variation of it.  Gavin’s is “how come?”  For instance: Gavin: What did the Fat Controller say? Me: He sent Thomas to the workshop. Gavin: How come? Me: Because Thomas ran off the rails and

Interdependence in the Phases of Childhood

A common criticism I have often received as a parent is that Gavin is too “clingy” to me.  I often get annoyed by such comments because I wonder “what is too clingy”? To a certain extent, shouldn’t a child be clingy? If you examine human evolution and understand the basic psychology of a child’s development,

More Lessons about Playschool

A toddler’s acceptance of school is a milestone like every other.  There will be good days and there will be bad days.  Just as we experience potty training regressions where a previously potty trained toddler starts peeing and pooping in his pants again, there are days when your toddler will regress and tell you he

Toddler Whims and Fancies

Gavin and I were at the supermarket recently and had the following conversation at the yoghurt aisle: Me: Let’s get some strawberry (yoghurt)Gavin: I want the blue oneMe: What blue one?  The blueberry one?  Are you sure?Gavin: I want the blue oneMe: Okay, we’ll get a small tub of the blue one in case you

A Pro-active Toddler

I went to school a little earlier to pick Gavin up today so that I could have a private chat with the principal before taking Gavin home.  My intention was to speak to the principal about moving Gavin to the class with the teacher he felt more comfortable with.  To my surprise, when I arrive,

How to Change Your Toddler Clothes without a Tantrum

When we’re dealing with toddlers, it isn’t just strollers or bath time that can trigger off a tantrum.  Even something as simple as changing his clothes or diaper can send a toddler over the brink into civil war.  Although it would be easy to label a toddler as being disobedient or difficult for developing such

How to Get Your Toddler into the Bath without a Tantrum

Ever since Gavin was a baby, he has loved water.  He enjoyed bath time and we never had any problems getting him to take a bath.  It was only when he became a toddler and wanted to exert his own autonomy that bath times became more challenging.  It wasn’t that he no longer enjoyed playing

Dealing with Toddler Temper Tantrums Part 3

Continuing on from my last post on Dealing with Toddler Temper Tantrums Part 2… Controlling the Situation and Environment In the first part of “Dealing with Toddler Temper Tantrums” I mentioned the importance of understanding your child and being able to see the situation from his perspective.  Not only does this help you assess the

Dealing with Toddler Temper Tantrums Part 2

This is part two on the article of “Dealing with Toddler Temper Tantrums.” Please click the link to read the first part. Tactics for Managing Tantrums Communication That fact that temper tantrums begin to decrease as children develop the language skills suggests that part of the cause is due to the inability to express their