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

“Take-Charge” Consequence.
Children who bite hard or are
“repeat offenders” get an immediate consequence, like a mini time-out
(see
this page
), time-out, or a fine.
Dangerous-Behavior Example: Running Away from
You
One last dangerous behavior you may have to deal with is when your
child darts away from you in a crowded mall or parking lot. Obviously,
running away in public is totally unacceptable and must be stopped
immediately.
Tools to Stop Children Who Run Away
In red-light situations, there is just no time to respectfully acknowledge
your child’s feelings. When there’s a danger or your child is breaking an
important family rule … you get to go first!
Clap-Growl.
Give a loud clap and growl then demand, “No! Stop!
Now! ” You may have to raise your voice, or you may be able to get his
attention with a stern voice and frown. (If your child doesn’t stop

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immediately and you have to run after him, keep a serious face so he
doesn’t confuse this with a game of chase.)
Connect with Respect.
Once your child is safe, then it’s his turn to
have his feelings validated:
“You wanted the ball. You said, ‘Kick ball!’ You ran, ran, ran … but
nooo! No street, no! Cars! Cars hurt kids! Ouch!”
If your child tries to run away again, it’s time for an immediate
consequence. (See
Time-Out: Real-Life Questions
for a way to give a
time-out when you are away from home.)

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“The journey is the reward.”
—Taoist saying
Congratulations! You’ve just guided your toddler through some of the
most amazing, fast-paced, challenging developments she’ll experience in
her entire life!
She has been miraculously transformed from a one-year-old (gleefully
practicing her first steps and words), to an 18-month-old (swaggering
with the new thrill of freedom and falling prey to wild emotional
swings), to a two-year-old (learning the simple rules of language and
social cooperation), to a three-year-old (fascinated by people, play, art,
humor, and friendship), to a four-year-old (a budding expert in art,
humor, and making friends).
Whew! No wonder this has been such an exhausting period for all of
you! And now here you are on the brink of your child’s fifth birthday.
Soon you’ll be leaving toddlerhood behind as your child knocks at the
gates of childhood to begin her long life as a citizen of the civilized
world.

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Of course, there is still a lot of work ahead, but your beautiful child is
no longer a little primitive. Five-year-olds are ready for all sorts of
exciting new cultural experiences, like writing, reading, Little League,
and lemonade stands.
And if you thought toddlerhood was amazing, just wait. Over the next
couple of years, your child’s sense of humor will blossom (Uh-oh … barf
and poop jokes are coming!), her curiosity about the world will explode
(“Why? Why? Why?”), and she’ll fall madly in love with her friends
(“But Mommy, I have to go to Mary’s party! Please!?”).
Your child’s development and maturation don’t mean she’ll totally
outgrow The Happiest Toddler parenting lessons. Of course, you’ll use
growling a lot less (although you may be tempted to bring it back during
the teen years), but the basic tools, like the Fast-Food Rule, feeding the
meter, and win-win compromises, will serve you well through all the
years of your little one’s childhood. Truthfully, none of us ever outgrows
the need to hear our feelings heard, understood, and respected.
And don’t expect to throw Toddler-ese away in a dumpster the minute
your little friend blows out her four birthday candles. As the years pass,
you’ll no longer be jabbing your finger in the air exclaiming, “You want!
You want!” But you will still be using shorter phrases and repetition, and
mirroring a bit of your child’s feelings to help soothe her emotional
upsets, for many more years. (Remember, even adults slide down an
emotional elevator when we’re distraught, and we feel most heard if our
friends and loved ones manage to hit our sweet spot when they
acknowledge our feelings.)
I hope you’ll look back fondly on these happy toddler days. Once

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you’re past this period, you’ll have a bit of a breather. The next ten years
will also have unique challenges, but you will have mastered the most
important skills you’ll ever need to be a great parent.
Congratulations, have fun, and hold on! As fast as toddlerhood passes,
the years of childhood will rocket by even faster!

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