As we celebrate the diversity of our Rainbow Nation this Heritage month, we also celebrate the tiny bundles of joy who make our world a brighter place! To our adorable Tiny Tots Competition entrants, you are all stars in our eyes. A heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful parents for sharing your precious little ones with us, thus making Tiny Tots Corner so special. We look forward to seeing those adorable, beautiful submissions. Keep those one- of- a- kind pictures rolling and continue sharing your little bundles of joy with us. Who knows, your little cherub could be one of our next winners! Good luck.
Competition Rules
- The Editor’s decision is final.
- This competition is open to all babies, between the ages of six and 24 months, who live in the Laudium Sun main distribution area.
- Closing date: Friday, October 23.
- Entries must include a recent, clear photo of your baby, accompanied by the full name and age of infant, and also parents’ names and addresses…as well as contact numbers.
- All entries must be hand-delivered to the Laudium Sun office in Laudium or e-mailed to: info@laudiumsun.co.za or posted to: PO Box 786, Pretoria, 0001, and are to reach us before the closing date.
How to discipline a Toddler?
Part 2
Ignore Bad Behavior
Ignoring is an active parental process where you consciously avoid responding positively or negatively to your toddler. Parental ignorance may help discourage certain destructive behaviors in the child, primarily if they are performed to seek attention. Ignorance is best for situations such as whining, crying, or screaming, as negative attention such as yelling or screaming at your toddler may fuel their behavior instead of modifying it. While it may be hard for you to ignore bad behavior, it helps the child learn to self soothe and regulate themselves without you reinforcing that negative behavior gets them attention. However, behaviors such as banging their head, biting, or throwing objects must not be ignored as they may pose a danger to you or your child.
Eliminate Temptations
Toddlers are curious and want to explore their surroundings to understand their limits and boundaries. However, as parents, you must ensure this exploration is safe and well within the boundaries. Defining safety boundaries requires the removal of temptations from the child’s surroundings. These include keeping electronics, sharp tools, and small objects away from their reach. It is also best to follow child safety guidelines within the house and ensure that electrical sockets, door locks, or stairways are child proofed.
Distract
Distraction can be handy for toddler discipline strategies between the ages of one and three when they are engaged in behaviors that may harm them. For example, distracting your child with a toy or a song while they reach out for a sharp tool you have out may help prevent them from getting injured without causing them to be upset about losing their target object.
Avoid Spanking And Yelling
While punishment may seem to bring about an instantaneous change, it has detrimental effects on the child’s self-control and patience. Harsh punishments for kids may make children fear the consequences of their actions and force them to engage in defensive behavior (such as aggression or withdrawal). Spanking, shaking, or slapping your child may make them feel uncared for and increase defiance. While it may immediately stop your child’s behavior explicitly, it can also spoil your relationship with your child and increase mistrustful behaviors. In addition, spanking or shaking the child may also result in physical injuries to the child. Studies indicate that harsh verbal discipline, such as yelling and belittling the child, can lead to problems such as depression and aggressive tendencies. Studies also suggest that harsh parental punishments can promote violent behaviors and mental health issues in children.
– Sourced.
If in any doubt, please consult with your healthcare provider.