When your toddler acts aggressively and you are not sure what to do, ZerotoThree.com says you first need to observe your child and try to see what is going on. Of course you want your child to behave well but sometimes an immediate punishment will not resolve things because there is an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. A toddler's stresses may not seem that serious to an adult. Parents can forget just how stressful things can be for a toddler since a toddler is new to the world and does not have lots of previous experience to use as a comparison.
Your child:
- Where is your child behaving aggressively--is it in a certain place or is it everywhere?
- Who is this behavior directed towards--a certain person or group of people, or anyone who is around?
- At what time of day does this behavior seem to occur? Remember that for toddlers, transition times (like bedtime or going from on activity to another) often bring on stress.
- Can you remember what happened right before your child starting to act out?
- Have there been any major changes in your child's life--moving, new sibling, new childcare provider--these changes can be major adjustments for a child.
You:
- Have you experienced any major changes or challenges lately that affect your behavior at home?
- How do you handle stress and challenges?
- How do you handle your child's aggression?
If you are looking for day care for your toddler where the staff is both competent and caring, consider Horizon Education Centers. We are currently offering a discount for our Toddler Care Program. We want to ensure that your child is safe and happy in a child care environment that is fun, educational, and nurturing. We welcome communication with parents so if your child is dealing with a change, please let us know.