Parents often feel that it might be too early to guide and discipline their toddlers, as toddlers might not be the stage where they can understand what rules and regulation are.

But it’s never too early to do so. As toddlers, they need adult to set limits so that they will feel safe and secure, to begin to understand what is expected of them, and to keep them from harming or hurting others.

However, toddlers are at the stage where they do not really misbehave. Rather, they often make mistakes in their efforts to experiment and understand the world and all the things around them.

Parents should not view is as them are being “naughty”, or worse still, shame and humiliate them for their “misbehaviour”.

EMPATHISE, UNDERSTAND AND ENCOURAGE

• Show your toddlers what he is supposed to do rather than what he should not do.
• Understand your toddler’s need for self-control and provide him with choices within limits. For example, if your toddlers refuse to keep his toys, you should give him a choice of which set of toys he wants to keep first, rather than forcing him to do it.
• In this way, he will be more willing to cooperate, as it gives him a sense of self-control and competence
• Support your toddlers towards self-discipline by setting boundaries.

Rebecca Han
Curriculum Specialist
Learning Vision