When you’re faced with difficult toddler behaviour, it can be painful. You simply want to move forward with your day, yet your child is digging in his heals or throwing a tantrum. Find positive parenting tips that will mitigate meltdowns and willfulness.
I had just got back from a feeing yoga class.
Having worked on handstand more than any other pose, I left light, playful, and kiddish. My regular week in the mommy trenches didn’t feel as weighty and I felt like I could really breathe. Earlier that day, I had come across a video on how to make mini candy apples. I capitalized on my kid-free time to pick up the ingredients.
I made my way through our front door, sweaty, smiling, my arms filled with grocery bags ready to surprise my kids. I had barely gotten through the door when I was met with a meltdown.
“You missed Mama?”
I scooped up my son.
He settled only to realize his sister had found the mini M&M’s in one of the bags I had brought in. I set him down and offered him the chocolate chips from the same bag. Incensed at this pathetic attempt at compensation, he tried to swat them away. “Gentle touches, please. If you don’t want these why not ask if you can trade for the M&Ms?”
Now he was on the ground crying.
I brought him in my arms and hugged him. Crying persisted. Long story short, we ended up in his room for a calm down together and no candy apples were made. I could argue that he is in the process of getting his molars in. And, he just got a cold, but who am I kidding?! This kid turned two at the beginning of the summer and is definitely expressing his autonomy and upset in a shrill way.
Parenting toddlers through tantrums is no easy feat.
One of my favourite developmental theories touches on this period of toddlerhood. Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development offer a wonderful framework from which to see toddler tantrums, resistance, crying, and other difficult toddler behaviours. In a nutshell, toddlers want to express their independence from you, show their preferences, and demonstrate their will for the first time. Read more about this theory and this stage here.
Here are my 10 + tried and true positive parenting tips for difficult toddler behaviour based on my university minor in psychology and my experience raising two toddlers.
Related reading: This is why you shouldn’t punish tantrums and here’s how to respond instead
Positive discipline strategies for parenting toddlers
1. Set expectations by front-loading (letting them know expectations ahead of time)
Not only does this help set kid(s) up for success because they know what is expected from them in a given context, it also helps them make sense of potential discipline if their behaviour calls for it.
For instance, this past week, I took both kids to a children’s museum. Knowing my daughter loves to flit from station to station without warning and because I was there without another adult to track her, I told her beforehand that she had to say, “Changing Mama” before she went anywhere. When we got inside, I had to take her aside two separate times to remind her of the expectation. Due to our conversation before, she didn’t react to me stopping her play because she knew she had made a mistake. The rest of the afternoon went off seamlessly.
2. Avoid negative language & give other options
Here is something that gets under my skin. I am at a restaurant, I ask something like, “Do you have a whole wheat option?” and they answer “No.” What I like so much more is an answer like, “Unfortunately, we don’t but if you are looking for something healthier, I love ____” The message is the same: they don’t have the option I was looking for. However, highlighting what options they do have rather than just shutting me down creates a very different experience. Do I think you should edit every word you say or not say ‘No’ to your child? Of course not. But, I do make a point of trying to tell my kids what they can do when they propose something that won’t work.
3. Choose your battles
The goal of my parenting is to help my children become critical thinkers as well as law-abiding citizens. As such, I have non-negotiables such as dress appropriately for the weather (my daughter has been trying to wear heavy cotton pants and sweaters in the middle of summer), wear your seatbelt, and sit down at the table when eating. But, I have wiggle room on things like matching clothes, who clicks the seatbelt, and the occasional floor picnic at dinner time.
4. Give two options with the same outcome
This is one of the simplest tips for parenting through difficult toddler behaviour. Giving two options with the same outcome makes a toddler feel in control. Meanwhile, you get them to agree to do what you would like done. For example, “Do you want to put on your shoes or have mama put them on?” or “Would you like to clean up now or in two minutes?” Same result different answers.
Related reading: Parenting a Strong-Willed Child? This is how to do it right
5. Give warnings and use a timer
Imagine if you were out for dinner at a friend’s house having a blast and suddenly your spouse interrupts you mid-conversation and says, “We are leaving now,” ushers you away from your friend, and out the door. The car ride home would likely be a poignant discussion if not an argument. Likewise, kids do best when you preempt the end of fun with a warning. I find using a timer is the best indication of when to leave because it isn’t arbitrary. When I say, “One last slide,” my kids tend to put off that last slide for as long as imaginable.
6. Choose natural or logical consequences
Consequences that are a byproduct of their choices or are directly tied to them are shown to lead to better internalized moral reasoning. Natural consequences stem from the behaviour and aren’t imposed by the parent. For instance, when my daughter doesn’t want to wear her jacket, I suggest she stand on the porch for a few minutes. Each time she comes in and grabs her jacket.
Sometimes natural consequences are too risky and a parent must impose consequences.
Examples include:
- running with scissors: loses the use of scissors
- hitting a child at the park: must sit to the side of the park for a timeout with mom or dad.
Related reading: Why Punishment is Ineffective and What You Can Do Instead
7. Empathize & paraphrase
Feeling heard and understood is one of the most valuable gifts we can give our kids especially when they’re acting out. So much of difficult toddler behaviour, or kids acting out in general, is simply them not having the words or the self-awareness to verbalize how they are feeling. In paraphrasing their feelings, they feel heard and can process their emotions more readily (read more from Child Psychologist, Dr. Laura Markham on this subject here). Paraphrasing also helps them develop the language to “use their words.”
8. Hug it out
When kids are screaming crying, it may seem counterintuitive to hug them. The majority of the time, I’ve noticed this softens them and helps them feel okay faster. There are times where their tantrums are more physical and as a result, it’s better to give them space.
9. If it’s not negotiable, don’t enter into negotiations
When you’ve set them up for success and you’ve given them a lot of empathy, and they still aren’t listening, remember not to negotiate. Sometimes it is best to disengage. Entering into a power struggle will only make matters worse. As a last resort, we go into timeout together. They don’t go alone because current research advises against separating yourself from your child when they are acting out.
10. Get present, and if you can, get outside
I have found that, more often than not, I’m faced with difficult toddler behaviour when I’m preoccupied. For instance, when I’m on the phone, tied up otherwise, or distracted my kids tend to act out more. Sometimes dropping what was on my to-do list, getting present and some fresh air solves everything.
11. Wait it out
When it comes to toddler tantrums, shortcuts generally don’t work. Saying, “calm down” only intensifies the reaction. Often the best course of action is to deep breathe and wait for cooperation.
For additional reading for difficult toddler behaviour, check out:
Front-Loading, Redirection & Connection: 3 Powerful Strategies for your strong-willed toddler
How to Stop Your Toddler from Hitting Without the use of Punishment
Why You Shouldn’t Punish Tantrums and What to do Instead
Why songs are one of the best ways to ease transitions for toddlers
How to Conquer Your Toddler’s Potty Training Regression
How Social Stories Will Help Your Child in the Heat of the Moment
When Your Toddler Should Stop Napping
Paediatrician says this is how to promote healthy eating in your picky toddler
FAQ about parenting toddlers
- What is a child considered a toddler?
According to Wikipedia, toddlerhood is from 12 to 36-months-old.
- What do toddlers need from their parents?
According to developmental psychology, when children hit toddlerhood, their main focus is establishing independence. So, on top of all of the basic needs they had as an infant – for comfort, unconditional love, safety, sleep and nutrition – they also need to feel independent. This means caregivers should support toddlers' curiosity, give options for them to demonstrate preference, allow for new challenges such as puzzle-building, going down the slide by themselves, and more.
- How do you discipline a toddler?
Start by front-loading. Tell the toddler what is expected of him and what will happen next.
Redirect negative behaviour. For example, if the child hits, show her how to be gentle or what words she could use to convey her frustration. If the child is being destructive, find toys he can stack and knock over.
Use positive language as much as possible. Negative language, such as 'Don't do that,' requires the child to process what she shouldn't be doing and deduce what he should be doing instead.
If the child needs a timeout, go with her and sit somewhere quiet and work on calming down together. - How do you discipline a child for hitting?
Instead of punishing, redirect the child's energy. For example, coach him to say, 'I'm mad,' or show him how to be gentle. If need be, take her for a timeout until she's calm but stay with her to help her calm down.
triciathegoodmama says
Great tips! My son just turned two this past August so we are in the same stage. I do almost all of these with my son. I agree with you that setting expectations does wonders. I used this a lot while teaching. I have found that often times children misbehave because they don’t truly know what is expected of them (we just assume that they know). I also try to practice good behaviors, especially if we are going out somewhere. The only one I haven’t done yet is counting down. I think I might be worried about what would happen if I hit 3 and the behavior didn’t change. Even with all these strategies, toddlerhood can be a tough age! haha I’m learning as I go.
Alana says
I’m WITH you!!!! It is so hard and it is so smart to set expectations. I can only imagine the implications in a classroom! Counting to three with my son does nothing except get me to follow-up with him. 9/10 with my daughter it works because she’s come to learn it’s much easier to do things on her own accord rather than have mama do it for her?
Shann Eva says
These are really great tips. With twin toddlers, since I am outnumbered, I find it even harder to control their behavior. They seem to feed off each other, or one will be behaving and the other will not. I love the setting expectations, and giving options other than just no. I’ve also tried hugging when tantruming, and it does seem to work. You’re “Don’t negotiate with Terrorists,” had me laughing out loud. So true!
Megan VW says
Love all 10 tips! We count down from 5 a lot with our 4yo. It really helps prevent yelling.
Christine - The Choosy Mommy says
These tips are spot on. My daughter just turned 3 and I hate to say it, but it just didn’t get any better yet. Terrible threes…or so I have heard. “No” is a really big deal in our house and we try to give options rather than say “no”. Redirecting is also huge as she tends to just get stuck on one thing and won’t stop (whether it is food, or clothes or whatever!) so we need to redirect her onto the next thing, like coloring or playing with the dogs or something else!
rebecca (@RebeccaXOXO_) says
These are wonderful tips.I have two toddlers.. a one and a two year old. And I can say, I go a bit crazy at times with their behavior. The one year old is very much worse than my two year old with it though. I’m going to take some of this advice and see if it helps ease our days a bit more smoother.
mommyinsports says
I love the timer idea and need to add that in pronto! Thanks for these wonderful tips!
workingmommagic says
I love this whole list.. especially the offering two options.. that one always works for me.
hungryforbalance says
Great tips! My daughter will be 2 in a few months and we are struggling with the tantrums right now.
Rebekah SurvivingToddlerhood says
I love these tips Alana!
Some that I try to use with my boys are setting the expectations and choosing consequences that fit the action. My youngest is told several times a day that he needs to use words instead of noises. Usually I can just tell him once and he will respond with words, other times it takes a little bit more work on my end. I also try to remind him to ask for help if something is frustrating him rather than start a fit.
twitchetts.com says
Loving all of these tips! We try really hard to stop and take Deep breaths. I think I need those as much as she does!!
shelahmoss says
What great tips! Number 1 worked well with my daughter and so did number 10. I use that one at work all the time!
Jules Ruud says
These are some great tips! My toddler is giving me a run for my money right now. Personally I am a huge fan of hugging it out and for Caleb it helps when we take deep breaths. Fresh air too. I have to admit, I found it a little strange that taking a quick step outside could calm him down in an instant. Anyway, these are awesome and just what I needed to read today.
michelle says
I have two boys 3&4 18months apart and boy i tell ya they sure give me a hard time espeically my 3year old ,sometimes i just wanna cry they drive me crazy but at the end of the day they cuddle me and love on me it makes it all better 🙂
tarametblog says
Thanks for these tips! Always good reminders and I like the timer idea 🙂
Kathryn says
Great tips! I am a pre-K teacher of 4 and 5 year olds, so a lot of these I was using in my classroom already. My husband, being new to dealing with children, has to be reminded sometimes to give a direction and not ask a question. ( example: “Time to put your toys away” instead of ” Can you pick up your toys now?”) I find that not giving them the option to say no is helpful.
I also find that in the middle of a meltdown, I can usually turn things around if I start singing, dancing, or doing something funny. It distracts then long enough to be able to rationally listen again (as rationally as a toddler can listen!) My son will be 2 tomorrow and we’re going through some trying times with him now, but hoping to make it to the other side unscathed… To be closely followed by my daughter who is 2 months! God, give me the strength!
Christie Fernandez says
I have twin boys 14 months old and they are exhibiting terrible 2 behavior already. Which is very frustrating for me, because they really don’t talk yet. How can I discipline or “reason” them when they can’t express themselves clearly. L.M. shakes his head no when he doesn’t want to do something and has tantrums, L.J. is also very clear about what he likes or doesn’t like. My Problem is when they behave negatively how do I get them to understand without losing my cool.
Alana says
Christine, I too find it difficult. For instance, my son SCREAMS when even the smallest thing is off to show how upset he is. For myself, I try and remind myself that a lot is beyond their developmental abilities. I also am honest with my kids about how I’m feeling, “Mama is getting very frustrated right now.” No matter what, it isn’t easy. And to be honest, I don’t know a parent who has never yelled or never struggled with feeling exasperated with parenting.
Emily Bresin says
These are fantastic tips. I have used a lot of them in my past working as a preschool teacher. I especially like giving two options that have the same outcome. It gives the little one that sense of control that they crave! My own daughter hasn’t quite reached the toddler tantrum stage yet, but I have a feeling these tips will come in handy for us soon.
Jewel Eliese says
Great tips! I have actually told my son (he was clueless) I do not negotiate with terrorists. Haha!
Alana says
Hahaha. It doesn’t register on mine either 😉
Rachel @ Messy Stork says
I do like no.7. I default to time out way to often. I’m going to try this later next time I turn into shouty mama!!
Alana says
Rachel, I can relate. I default to tactics that don’t exactly work all that well when parenting through difficult toddler behaviour. Parenting isn’t easy especially when you’re tired and dealing with the same issue over and over. Thanks so much for reading!
Saroja B says
Great one. Happy to read through all the instructions as each of them are the day to day issues the parents face. The special one is “Do not get into negotiation if it is not negotiable”. Liked the idea behind giving them two options. Thank you for sharing the great parenting tips.
Suzanne Riddiford says
Awesome hints Thank You!!
Im going to practise these as a Grandma!
Amber says
I absolitely love these ideas. I try counting down from five with my 3 year old and then we talk through the problem. I’m attenpting it with my 1.5 year old but she doesnt understand it yet. I must remember the rest of these practices though.
Alana Pace says
Thank you so much for your comment about parenting your own toddlers. I love your strategies and I agree a 1.5-year-old is much more difficult to talk it out with. I have a fourteen-month-old and he’s very vocal 😉