Parenting Toddlers • • • •

Guiding and Directing Toddlers

Children between the ages of 12 months and 2 years are often referred to as toddlers. They are developing at an amazing rate, learning how to walk and talk, opening up huge new avenues of exploration. An important parenting shift needs to take place at this point. While you may have allowed your schedule and many family dynamics to be determined by your baby up until now, you’ll need to bring more structure into your toddler’s life at some point. You need to set boundaries on a mobile child and require that your toddler respond to your leadership more than you have in the past.

A toddler likes to explore and test out new things. You’ll want to contribute to those God-given desires by providing a lot of new opportunities for stimulation while still protecting your child from danger.

Parents have differing approaches to the toddler challenges, but focusing on the heart and character development at this age is important for building good patterns. We have a CD set called Parenting Toddlers that you will find helpful in addressing subjects such as sleeping, eating, potty training, and discipline. This CD set was created before a live audience of parents of toddlers so you’ll appreciate the answers tailored to their specific questions.

As you think about discipline and the growing relationship with your child, you may want to read the book Parenting is Heart Work to understand ways to build good patterns that address the heart rather than merely relying on simple behavior modification.

This also would be a good time to attend a live parenting seminar or join an online parenting support group for parents of preschoolers.

We are eager to help you as you continue to raise your child. Be sure to pray often for and with your child and teach him or her about the Bible. Spiritual development is so important at any age. So practice now and grow into good habits of spiritual growth in your family.