The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block 2-Book Bundle pdfdrive com

How to Do It:
Let your child overhear you praise him … in a loud
whisper.
One day Louise brought her three-year-old to me for a
sore throat. Rather than battling Turner to open his
mouth, I used gossip. Leaning toward Louise, I loudly
whispered, “I really like it when Turner opens his mouth
and shows me his big lion teeth.”
As I spoke, I cupped my hand next to my mouth, like I
was telling a secret (I kept my fingers spread a bit to let
him see my open mouth, so he knew what I wanted him to
do). A few seconds later, when I switched on my light,
Turner immediately opened wide … like magic!
Gossiping
• With your toddler nearby, whisper some praise about her to
someone else. You can whisper it to anybody—even a doll, or
someone you pretend to be talking to on the phone. Don’t wink
or look at your child when you do this. Gossiping only works
when he thinks you don’t want to be overheard.
Cup your hand alongside your mouth and, in a loud whisper, say
to the birdies outside, “Psst … hey, Mr. Birdie! Lauren ate all her
peas! Yeah … every one!” Then turn back to your child like

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nothing happened and give her a little understated praise. “Good
eating, Lauren!” Even if your tot doesn’t understand all your
words, your admiring tone of voice will make her feel valued!
• If your child leans in to listen, whisper more quietly … like
you’re telling a juicy secret. For an older toddler, mumble some
of the words so he can’t hear them all. This really makes it seem
like you don’t want to be overheard. If he gleefully exclaims, “I
hear you!” just say, “Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just talking to Mr.
Birdie.”
• Later on, repeat the same compliment to someone else. Your
child will be pleased and think, Wow, this must be true, because
I’m hearing it a lot lately.
Time-Ins: Little Rewards
Small gifts can grease the wheels of cooperation. Some critics disapprove
of giving kids “rewards.” They say, “Children should obey simply out of
respect.” Nice idea, but expecting toddlers to cooperate purely out of
respect is like expecting patience from a baby. It’s not going to happen.
What It Is:
Little rewards (incentives) are small gifts we give to
acknowledge when a child does something we like. Rewards are not the
same as bribery. Bribery is done to discourage bad
behavior … incentives encourage good. Of course, you are your child’s
number one reward. His favorite gift will be a little roughhousing, an
insect hunt, playing tag, or story time. But occasional small incentives
like stickers, poker chips, hand stamps, or a bit of candy can have a
magical effect.
Wait! Did he just say “candy”?
Sweets used wisely—and infrequently—are a powerful reward for
toddlers. But please don’t worry. Using a lollipop or animal crackers as
an occasional treat won’t cause obesity or lead to a life of dessert-mania.

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