As parents we always hear how important positive reinforcement is when disciplining your child. Instead of just punishing your toddler for wacking the dog, praise her when you catch her petting the puppy nicely. I’m sure you have all heard this over and over again.
Well, recently, I’ve discovered that this works for me as well. I tend to beat myself up over every mistake I make as a parent and think “Alright now I’ve gone and screwed her up for good.”
Last week I started trying this positive reinforcement thing out on myself. I have been ending every day with thinking of three things I did RIGHT that day concerning Eva. It has seriously made a huge difference in my interactions with her. Not only do I feel better about myself and my ability to raise a little human being but throughout the day I think about how I am going to have to answer to myself and I make better choices because of it.
Positive reinforcement has made me a better mom.
This picture is from our Duck feeding session this week. Did you know that you can feed hard boiled eggs to ducks? According to my duck-friendly sister it is better for them than bread.
Also, did you know that peeling hard boiled eggs is a great fine motor activity for toddlers? I discovered that one for myself. Now, if I could just figure out how to get her to eat one.
I hope you are all enjoying your Spring as much as we are!
Try to be patient when your infant throws an object over and over and over again. This is an important part of brain development, they are learning cause and effect.
When your child is older and still throws things have them help you pick it up. Or if they make a mess by coloring on the wall or spilling water have them help you clean it with a sponge or towel. My dd loves to help clean things, it makes her feel like a “big girl”.
I find that if I have her help me clean the mess it reduces my irritation and I think eventually she will get tired of cleaning and think twice before throwing all her food off the highchair. I could be dreaming but hey it’s worth a shot right?
This picture really has nothing to do with this post. Just my adorable daughter helping me make cookies on New Years Eve. And no, I did not make her help clean the mess!
Ever since my daughter was 9 months old she has been in the sport of hitting mommy. I remember the first time she did it, I was very surprised and tried to handle it as calmy as possible. For the first few months I just told her “no, hitting. Nice” and rubbed her hand gently on my face.
After she turned one I started getting mad when she would do it. I have never and will never hit my daughter, then why is she hitting me?! I would grab her hands and very sternly say “No, no hit!”
She is now one and a half and still does it. Actually she doesn’t just hit she scratches and pulls my hair too. She doesn’t discriminate either. She does it to other kids, daddy, and the dog! Now when she does it she immediatley says “Nice” and rubs her hand on my face. That’s great and all but in a couple of minutes she does it again, and again, and again. Since copius amounts of positive reinforcement hasn’t seemed to work I have started using time out after the third time. Originally I thought she was too young but it actually works quite well with her.
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