Comments on: Taming Your Tots http://www.themotherhuddle.com/taming-your-tots/ A daily dose of inspiration Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:35:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Annie http://www.themotherhuddle.com/taming-your-tots/comment-page-1/#comment-4240 Annie Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:01:37 +0000 http://www.themotherhuddle.com/?p=2684#comment-4240 I find it really helpful to make sure I have plenty of time when I go out shopping so that I can talk with the children patiently while we shop. I tell my two year old "should we buy kale or collards, you choose?" She loves to be part of the shopping process and now knows the name of every vegetable and fruit in the store. She can even tell you which herb is which. I have my seven-year old put stuff in the bags for me. It may take longer, but shopping is much more peaceful. I find it really helpful to make sure I have plenty of time when I go out shopping so that I can talk with the children patiently while we shop. I tell my two year old “should we buy kale or collards, you choose?” She loves to be part of the shopping process and now knows the name of every vegetable and fruit in the store. She can even tell you which herb is which. I have my seven-year old put stuff in the bags for me. It may take longer, but shopping is much more peaceful.

]]> By: Cynthia http://www.themotherhuddle.com/taming-your-tots/comment-page-1/#comment-2308 Cynthia Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:15:33 +0000 http://www.themotherhuddle.com/?p=2684#comment-2308 Love, love, love this post - especially the advice about acting our age. Needed that. I totally second the part about consistency - we have followed through on everything with which we have ever promised or threatened our children - and have learned to be careful what we promise/threaten after a considerable amount of work following through on a few occasions!. But my kids know that we're serious every time we say something, and they rarely 'test' us. Also wanted to add that the 3-5 year-old range does REALLY well with a schedule. We have a weekly schedule on the wall that's broken down into 30-minute increments and color-coded. My son knows when and what we're eating each day, when he gets Mommy-time (reading, school, play, etc.), when we need to leave the house (errands, etc.), and when he needs to occupy himself. And it has helped SO much. He feels more in control of his day, can see that each day does contain the things he wants to do (particularly if he's in the chore half-hour), and is rarely ever 'surprised' with bad news. I highly recommend scheduling your kids - but I have also learned to include some blank 30-minute slots each day, too - to allow for flexibility and spontaneity and alleviate stress. Love, love, love this post – especially the advice about acting our age. Needed that. I totally second the part about consistency – we have followed through on everything with which we have ever promised or threatened our children – and have learned to be careful what we promise/threaten after a considerable amount of work following through on a few occasions!. But my kids know that we’re serious every time we say something, and they rarely ‘test’ us. Also wanted to add that the 3-5 year-old range does REALLY well with a schedule. We have a weekly schedule on the wall that’s broken down into 30-minute increments and color-coded. My son knows when and what we’re eating each day, when he gets Mommy-time (reading, school, play, etc.), when we need to leave the house (errands, etc.), and when he needs to occupy himself. And it has helped SO much. He feels more in control of his day, can see that each day does contain the things he wants to do (particularly if he’s in the chore half-hour), and is rarely ever ‘surprised’ with bad news. I highly recommend scheduling your kids – but I have also learned to include some blank 30-minute slots each day, too – to allow for flexibility and spontaneity and alleviate stress.

]]> By: Destri http://www.themotherhuddle.com/taming-your-tots/comment-page-1/#comment-2086 Destri Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:00:19 +0000 http://www.themotherhuddle.com/?p=2684#comment-2086 Even worse is when they are trying to say hello to someone at the store, and they ignore them! I don't understand it. If I said hi I am sure they respond, but if it's my two year old it's not worthy of a response. Crazy! Even worse is when they are trying to say hello to someone at the store, and they ignore them! I don’t understand it. If I said hi I am sure they respond, but if it’s my two year old it’s not worthy of a response. Crazy!

]]> By: Miranda http://www.themotherhuddle.com/taming-your-tots/comment-page-1/#comment-2083 Miranda Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:13:36 +0000 http://www.themotherhuddle.com/?p=2684#comment-2083 What a wonderful post! Even though my daughter is quite young, she likes to help at the grocery store. I have to prepare myself before I walk in the doors for the constant conversation we'll be having while she rides in the cart. If I don't respond to her comments and questions, she gets upset and makes the trip much more difficult. :) What a wonderful post! Even though my daughter is quite young, she likes to help at the grocery store. I have to prepare myself before I walk in the doors for the constant conversation we’ll be having while she rides in the cart. If I don’t respond to her comments and questions, she gets upset and makes the trip much more difficult. :)

]]> By: Magen http://www.themotherhuddle.com/taming-your-tots/comment-page-1/#comment-2068 Magen Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:41:47 +0000 http://www.themotherhuddle.com/?p=2684#comment-2068 I really appreciate everyone's comments. I too think it is so important to let your children know what is about to happen and what I expect. My daughters find re-assurance in it. I do it so much that now my 4 year old explains to her aunts and uncles (daddy too) what is happening and what SHE expects :) It even works for shots at the doctors office. We started talking about them a couple days beforehand and I don't smooth it over. We'll talk about how it will hurt but why it's important. She hasn't ever cried at the doctors office! Maybe she is just tough... I also like the comment of just letting things go. At the grocery store I let my 4 year old arrange the groceries in the cart. She loves it. It's hard to let go of control (what if she crushes them?) but it always turns out fine. I really appreciate everyone’s comments. I too think it is so important to let your children know what is about to happen and what I expect. My daughters find re-assurance in it. I do it so much that now my 4 year old explains to her aunts and uncles (daddy too) what is happening and what SHE expects :) It even works for shots at the doctors office. We started talking about them a couple days beforehand and I don’t smooth it over. We’ll talk about how it will hurt but why it’s important. She hasn’t ever cried at the doctors office! Maybe she is just tough…

I also like the comment of just letting things go. At the grocery store I let my 4 year old arrange the groceries in the cart. She loves it. It’s hard to let go of control (what if she crushes them?) but it always turns out fine.

]]> By: Destri http://www.themotherhuddle.com/taming-your-tots/comment-page-1/#comment-2067 Destri Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:13:37 +0000 http://www.themotherhuddle.com/?p=2684#comment-2067 I love grandma's, full of wisdom. Thanks for sharing Eunice! I love grandma’s, full of wisdom.
Thanks for sharing Eunice!

]]> By: Destri http://www.themotherhuddle.com/taming-your-tots/comment-page-1/#comment-2066 Destri Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:00:54 +0000 http://www.themotherhuddle.com/?p=2684#comment-2066 Great advice Linda, I love the exploring part. So many times I have to stop and think 'is it really hurting anything' if its not than just let em have at it! And the dollar bills idea, I am going to have to try that one. Thanks for sharing! Great advice Linda, I love the exploring part. So many times I have to stop and think ‘is it really hurting anything’ if its not than just let em have at it! And the dollar bills idea, I am going to have to try that one.
Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Kate http://www.themotherhuddle.com/taming-your-tots/comment-page-1/#comment-2057 Kate Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:43:51 +0000 http://www.themotherhuddle.com/?p=2684#comment-2057 Magical, thank you. I love the 'it's hard to act your age'.... I definitely had one of those yesterday, err, and the day before that and quite possibly the day before that too. And for your records I was most definitely not acting my age! My 3 year old likes to be as nosiy as he can be but is super good at stores, my 16 month old I know will be the screaming, kicking tantrum throwing crazy red faced super nova in the cereal aisle! His achilles, cooked and shreaded chicken! His brother now is good at helping me, more and more each time we go...... You are so right in letting your children act their age,, they know no different, we, however, have the experience of controlling our emotions...... or at least trying too! Bless you what a lovely page of advice and guideance. Smiles Magical, thank you.
I love the ‘it’s hard to act your age’…. I definitely had one of those yesterday, err, and the day before that and quite possibly the day before that too. And for your records I was most definitely not acting my age! My 3 year old likes to be as nosiy as he can be but is super good at stores, my 16 month old I know will be the screaming, kicking tantrum throwing crazy red faced super nova in the cereal aisle! His achilles, cooked and shreaded chicken! His brother now is good at helping me, more and more each time we go……
You are so right in letting your children act their age,, they know no different, we, however, have the experience of controlling our emotions…… or at least trying too!
Bless you what a lovely page of advice and guideance.
Smiles

]]> By: Tina http://www.themotherhuddle.com/taming-your-tots/comment-page-1/#comment-2056 Tina Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:01:28 +0000 http://www.themotherhuddle.com/?p=2684#comment-2056 Great Post! I love the line about "it's hard to act your age..." Great tips too! Great Post! I love the line about “it’s hard to act your age…” Great tips too!

]]> By: Suzanne http://www.themotherhuddle.com/taming-your-tots/comment-page-1/#comment-2053 Suzanne Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:23:40 +0000 http://www.themotherhuddle.com/?p=2684#comment-2053 Super ideas. I think telling your children what's going to happen and what you expect of them is a must. It really helps my little one to know what is expected and how long we plan to be somehwere. I often forget that he needs this at each grocery trip. I love the book Magic 1-2-3, it's about getting your children to behave and it's fairly easy and it works, when your consistent. I so wish I had a do over with my older child and that I learned some of these things. Super ideas. I think telling your children what’s going to happen and what you expect of them is a must. It really helps my little one to know what is expected and how long we plan to be somehwere. I often forget that he needs this at each grocery trip. I love the book Magic 1-2-3, it’s about getting your children to behave and it’s fairly easy and it works, when your consistent. I so wish I had a do over with my older child and that I learned some of these things.

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