Raising Toddlers

Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves, without rebuke or effort to
change us, as no one in our entire lives has ever done, not our parents,
siblings, spouses, friends - and hardly ever our own grown children. ~Ruth
Goode

Once your children hit the toddler stage, you realize that the baby years were
easy times. You can outrun crawling babies, but a 2 year old is non-stop action.
When our daughter began walking, it was more of a sprint. As a 3 year old, she
is marathon runner, everywhere in the house and outdoors. She can'€™t be
stopped.

By Jessica Lee

Christmas time is truly transformed when you get to experience it though the eyes of a little kid. I mean let’s face it; this holiday is more for them than anybody else. As adults, we may appreciate the family-time, the togetherness, the memories and traditions, the great meals and nice presents we get from loved ones.

However, for us it’s also about a ton of preparation, of errands and the dreaded Christmas office party. It’s a couple of weeks of ups and downs (on the scale...ha!), of emotions running high and ultimately burn-out by the end of it.

Do you ever notice your toddler becoming cranky at certain times each day? Do you have trouble controlling his behavior or does he seem unpredictable and unmanageable? Does she wake up during the night several times each week? While many factors can contribute to these things occurring, your toddler's nutrition plays a surprising role.

Temper tantrums. I doubt there is a child alive who hasn't had at least one of these. Parents everywhere are all too familiar with the sound of a tantrum. Usually, they begin around 18 months and can continue through age four. Depending on a child's disposition, they can sometimes begin even earlier and continue, in more subtle forms, through the elementary and teen years.

Some families are full of happy salad-eaters while some are full of kids who subsist off Mac-n-Cheese and sandwiches with the crusts cut off. Most parents of picky eaters wonder how to get their children to eat a wider variety of foods. Why will some children readily eat broccoli, baked fish, and casseroles while other children refuse to eat anything except cheese sandwiches and Fruit Loops?

Parenting preschoolers is a fun time for both the parents and the child. These years are a time of learning and change. It's a time of transition. Your child is losing his toddler face and gaining the big kid look that will stay with him for many years. The wonder of the world, which characterizes the baby and toddler year, has worn off. Most activities are "old hat" by the time your child turns three.

If you have ever had a toddler in your home, you've undoubtedly noticed that they don't eat three square meals per day. Toddlers are grazers. Like little rabbits, they go about their day eating small amounts between their more important activities of exploring, discovering, and experimenting. We moms are more accustomed to eating only three times a day, so living with a little one who prefers seven to ten tiny meals each day can be a challenging adjustment.

Children thrive on feeling needed. One very effective way of including even the youngest family members is through chores. Toddlers from age fifteen months can do simple tasks alongside a parent or older sibling. Toddlers delight in these pint-sized jobs. Don"t pass up the opportunity to enlist the help of all your children in housekeeping. It won't be long before they'd rather do anything than help clean house!

Here are a few ideas to get you started.