Everybody Helps

The house gets clean a lot quicker when everybody helps. Even toddlers can pick up toys and throw away trash. Toddlers often enjoy helping the most. It is amazing what can be accomplished in one hour when everybody pitches in. Also, things stay a lot cleaner when everybody picks up after themselves.

Stay Calm

Stay calm when a rule is broken. Toddlers need a lot of patience. Follow up with an appropiate consequence. Remind the child of the rule.

Expand Rights

Expand the rights and limits as your toddler grows and matures.

Individual Time With Child

Plan a time to spend individually with each child.
Let the child choose the activity.
Eliminate distractions.
Talk with the child and listen to the child.
Allow small children to make their own rules for games.
Be flexible and spontaneous.
Plan special activities around birthdays.

Repeat Rules Often

Toddlers need rules that are simple and repeated often. It takes a while for toddlers to learn and obey rules. Repeat and explain rules often, but keep the explanation simple.

Provide a Place for your Toddlers Belongings

Evaluate where the messes occur. Does your toddler drop everything on the floor as soon as he or she walks in a room? If so, install hooks for coats and backpacks, to make them easy to put away. Put a trash can in every room. Provide a box, shelf, or container to keep stuff in. Have a spring cleaning to discard unneeded items.

Look at Toddler When Talking

Look at your toddler when you are talking to him or her. Stop what you are doing, move close to your toddler, and look in his or her eyes. This action helps your toddler know that he or she is important and that the rules need to be obeyed.

Give Encouragement

Give encouragement when your toddler obeys a rule. Take notice often of even small tasks done and give the child praise. Communicate your happiness when the child is good.

Savings Account

Start a savings account for your toddler. Deposit a little money in it on a regular basis. Plan to send your child to college or trade school.

Rotating Toys

Does your toddler have too many toys to keep picked up? Box some up for another time. Rotate the stored toys every month or so.

Family Time

Ideas for Family Time

Plan an activity together weekly.
Eat meals together whenever possible.
Work and clean together.
Lean new skills together.
Read books together.
Pray together.
Attend events together.
Plan activities around holidays and important family dates.

Criticize Broken Rules, Not Child

Criticize the broken rule or behavior. Do not criticize the child. Let the child know why behavior was wrong. Let the child know you love him.

Be Positive

Be positive around your toddler. Set a good example of good behavior. Toddlers often imitate parents.

Stock up on Easy to Prepare Foods

Caring for toddlers and running errands with toddlers can take more time than expected. Quick meal preparation helps when toddlers are fussy, hungry, and tired.

Rules

Keep rules simple for your toddler. Do give them simple explanations. They can learn a few rules at a time. Praise them when they remember to obey. Remind often. Don´t expect perfection.

Involve Toddler in Helping

Toddlers like to try new things and do things by themselves. Involve your toddlers in helping others. Give them plenty of praise and encouragement. Remember to tell them "Thank You." They will soon learn to tell others "Thank You" by your example.

Crayons and Markers

Toddlers like to draw and will draw on anything, including themselves. Keep markers (especially permanent ink markers) and crayons out of reach of toddlers until ready for use. One day as I was getting ready to go to church my toddler found a blue marker and drew on her face.

Photos and Videos

The first few children seem to get the most pictures. I remember video taping my first baby while he slept for 10 minutes. Life gets busier with more children and picture taking is usually less often. Keep your video camera handy–somewhere you can see it and use it often if only for a few minutes.

Enjoy Big Job Fun

It is good to break the routine up every once in a while to do some chore that doesn´t need to be done every day. Chores such as washing the walls, organizing a closet, and cleaning the windows fit into this category. Toddlers often see these type of chores as big job fun and are glad to help.

Be Consistent

Be consistent in enforcing rules. Toddlers will soon learn what rules can be easily broken without consequence.