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

Over these next three years you’ll constantly be molding your child’s
behavior, encouraging the good and discouraging the bad. I find it helps
to think of your job as being a bit like a traffic light: Flash a green light
(Go!) to behaviors you want to continue; flash a yellow light (Warning!)
to behaviors that are annoying; and flash a red light (Stop now!) to
actions that are seriously unacceptable and/or dangerous. Some parents
I know refer to green-yellow-red behaviors as the Good, the Bad … and
the Ugly!
♦

Chapter 5
will cover green-light behaviors and give you specific
tips for boosting your toddler’s good actions and manners.
♦

Chapter 6
presents fast, effective, and loving ways to curb your
toddler’s annoying yellow-light behaviors.
♦

Chapter 7
teaches you “take-charge” consequences that are
perfect for quickly putting the brakes on your child’s aggressive,
dangerous, or disrespectful red-light behaviors.

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“A child is fed with milk and praise.”
—Charles and Mary Lamb, Poetry for Children, 1809
Main Points:
The best way to help your toddler behave better is to flash a green light
of encouragement every time you see him being good. Here are five
enjoyable ways to do this:
• Time-ins: Boost cooperation with bits of fun (includes
attention, praise, gossip, rewards, hand checks, star charts,
play).
• Build confidence: Respect—plus some silliness—makes kids
feel like winners (includes giving options and playing the
boob).
• Teach patience: Give your child two surefire ways to build self-
control (includes patience-stretching and magic breathing).
• Create daily routines: Simple routines help kids feel smart and

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secure (includes bedtime sweet talk, special time, loveys, and
pacifiers).
• Plant seeds of kindness: Teach manners and character through
the “side door” of your child’s mind (includes fairy tales and
role-play).
Parents often think that if their tot has several calm days in a row, the
era of outbursts must be over. (“I know she can be cooperative.… She
did it yesterday.”) Not so fast! Although your toddler’s desire to be good
does grow as she grows, Bamm-Bamm doesn’t turn into Bambi overnight.
You’ll be teaching your child the niceties of civilization for years to
come. Part of the secret of helping your child become happier, better
behaved, and more fun to be with is figuring out how to encourage her
good (green-light) behaviors.