How To Stop Toddlers From Biting-Toddler
How To Stop Toddlers From Biting
It is an unfortunate fact of life but, unfortunately, toddlers and biting frequently go together. It is a painful time for both the toddler and their parents and trying to stop the toddler from biting can be quite a challenge.Toddlers and biting may be a difficult challenge but there is hope for a cure if you are patient and consistent. First you need to understand why your toddler bites. The primary reason that a toddler bites another child or their parents is because of frustration. The toddler is now aware of his/her needs but frequently lacks the ability to successfully communicate those needs. Another reason that toddlers bite is when they are stressed. New situations, new environments, new people or playmates can all stress a toddler and biting maybe their reaction to it. Being hungry or tired also add to the toddler's stress.If a toddler bites out of frustration it is important to start teaching them the exact words they need to use in order to express their wants. Simple phrases like, "I want..." work best. If a toddler bites out of stress the best medicine is preventative medicine. Try to avoid putting the child in positions where he/she will likely to become stressed, a stress that may result in biting.When your toddler bites it is important that you respond immediately and appropriately. You need to let the toddler know that biting is not acceptable social behavior and that it needs to stop. Teaching the toddler appropriate means to handle stress and frustration are the best tools to handle toddlers and biting.Maria Gonzalez is webmaster of Parenting Made Easy, a site dedicted to helping new parents.For more great articles on parenting visit our Parenting Articles page.
How Toddlers Can Benefit From Using Computers-Toddler
How Toddlers Can Benefit From Using Computers
It's a fact of life that we live in an electronic age and computers are a bigger part of our lives than ever. It's unlike anything we've seen in the past and kids are learning to use computers at younger ages. There are steps a parent can take to ensure that their toddlers receive important skill-building benefits from their computer experience."Kids that had some access to a computer, either at home or at a family member's house they went to frequently, had higher estimated IQ scores and higher school readiness scores than kids that did not have access to a computer," said Melissa Atkins, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Ohio (source: Azcentral.com).On the other hand, some experts argue that young children may experience negative effects of computer use, including interference with cognitive development and social development. The key, for any parent, is to supervise their children's activity on the computer and to place time limits on use.When small children use computers, parents should ensure the safety of their data. According to Alice Seba, owner of MalcolmsWeb.com (a resource website for parents of babies and toddlers), "To keep files safe there are programs available that will allow you to 'lock' the contents of your C drive so that important components can't be deleted accidentally."Parents should also make the computer easier for little hands to use. They can purchase a child-size mouse, programmed for one click use, and a keyboard with large letters that doesn't include the extra characters a young child might find distracting.There are many programs suitable for toddlers and parents should evaluate the abilities and interests of their children. Some programs teach basic skills such as colors, counting and the alphabet. Others include more advanced skills like reading, math and strategic planning."It's important that parents choose a program appropriate to their child's education and skill level. Even more importantly, it's important that their child is enjoying the computer experience for maximum benefit. With moderation and parental supervision, a computer is an invaluable learning tool for young children" says Seba.Parents can pick up a free report to toddler-proof their computers and learn about educational computer programs at http://www.malcolmsweb.com/computertips.html
The Top 10 Fun Things for Parents and Toddlers to Play With-Toddler
The Top 10 Fun Things for Parents and Toddlers to Play With
1. Give your child a spray bottle of water and watch them spray every possible thing outside of the house!2. Use shaving cream in the bathtub for extra fun.It is usually possible to find cans of shaving cream that cost only a dollar each.3. Remember that Barney dolls, Sesame Street dolls, and the like are as real to your child as any other person that they have met.Respect their relationship with their 'cloth' friends.4. Buy a small pet, such as a frog, lizard, goldfish, bunny, hamster, etc.Toddlers need something to love. A pet will add much more stimulation to your child's life than any other toy will.5. Replace your child's stroller with the wagon for outings to the park, the mall, etc.Wagons can make both toddlers and their parents very happy. Wagons are symbolic of you and your child making it through the baby stage and entering the world of "big kids."6. Teach your toddler to march to the beat of "one-two-three-four!" while the two (or more) of you play your instruments.Your child will never want this marching band game to end!7. Make a sandbox out of a large plastic container for your child to play in.If you put the container outside, covering it will keep the cats from mis-using your new toy.8. Build towers together with blocks.Your child will learn about spatial relationships, balance, etc.9. When using Play-Doh with your child, show them how to make little snowmen, snakes, etc,. since it is difficult for their little fingers to mold clay at this developmental stage.10. Set up finger painting in an empty bathtub with your child wearing only a diaper.This can make finger painting a much less stressful activity for a parent.About The AuthorThis piece was written by Dr. Clare Albright, Psychologist and Parenting Coach, and author of "100 Tips for Parents of Two Year Olds", which can be downloaded for only $5.77 from http://www.ParentsOfTwoYearOlds.com