How to Rediscover the Joy of Parenting Your Toddler

I'm so tired of hearing about the "terrible twos". Toddlers are wonderful, imaginative, curious, growing creatures with great senses of humor and an amazing zest for life. If there's anything "terrible" it's the way they are treated by the grown-ups around them. Sometimes, this is due to a simple misunderstanding of what can really be expected from your toddler. Toddlers' brains are developing at a rapid rate and at times it can seem that the baby we knew yesterday is no relation to the toddler we see today. For some parents who were never really comfortable with the totally dependent baby, this change to an independent mover is a blessing. But for most of us, this rapid progression is intimidating and even frightening.

To see what I mean, we must take a quick look at toddler development. If we want to understand who they are, we have to find out where they are. Toddlers spend much of their time working on their gross motor skills - that means walking, climbing, jumping and exploring the great big world. As they develop independence, phobias can also arise, as well as separation anxiety and fears of strangers. They are also working on language and communication - which is where a lot of frustration can arise - for both the toddler and her family. Feeding toddlers can be a tricky experiment in nutrition, as their wants and needs change from one day to the next. Sometimes toddlers even begin to have disrupted sleeping patterns, even those who have slept through the night for months on end. Whew! No wonder people call these little bundles of contradiction "terrible" and struggle to find the joy in daily care-taking.

But I have great news for you: toddlers are sweet, fun, inquisitive, joyful, loving, curious, really special beings. Below, you will find some tips for handling your toddler and some strategies to help bring joy to every single day that you get to spend with your toddler. Don't miss out on the blessing that your toddler waits to give you. When you can relax into his world, you will rediscover childhood joys and remember why you wanted to have this little being in the first place.

Tips for Toddlers: