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Toddler Friendships

• Even infants interact, so it’s important to expose your child to other kids early on.
• Check out libraries or community centers for mom and baby programs or drop-ins.
• The 18-month mark is typically when altercations begin to arise in your toddler’s early friendships.
• Teach your toddler to have a voice and to communicate instead of just rescuing her from problems during play dates.
• Hitting and other aggressive behavior is often a sign that toddlers are trying to connect–the best thing is to redirect them toward cooperative play, such as building a fort together.

Toddler Power Struggles

• Power struggles are how children push the envelope so they can learn boundaries in different situations.
• When you increase the intensity of your reaction to stop a power struggle, it can be scary for your child.
• You can back out of a power struggle and prevent a total tantrum by simply going silent for 10 to 60 seconds.
• Your silence captures your child's attention and shows him that you're calm and in control.
• As long as the silence isn't punitive, it quickly becomes more powerful than arguing.

Acting Out

• Teach your child how to deal with frustration before an incident occurs using techniques such as role-play.
• Give more attention to the injured child rather than the one who did the hitting.
• Teach your child positive touch, such as how to hold hands or give a back rub.
• Tell your child to clap his hands whenever he feels an urge to hit–this gives him an outlet for his emotions.
• If you have a child who has trouble controlling his physical acts, avoid wrestling and other physical play at home.

Handling Temper Tantrums

• Early temper tantrums are emotional outbursts that occur when a child becomes frustrated.
• Temper tantrums are more likely to occur if a child is tired or hungry.
• As your toddler gets closer to two years, it will take more than simple distraction to ease a temper tantrum.
• Avoid positive reinforcement and limit the attention you give to temper tantrums.
• Don't take it personally if your child is prone to temper tantrums.

Teaching Your Child

• Infants and toddlers are testing their environment when they drop a toy or splash water–help encourage play as a voyage of discovery.
• Don't get impatient when your child dawdles–be prepared to stop and examine anything that captures her interest.
• The best way for children to learn is by doing things, not by being told about them. Hands-on experiences are key to development.
• Spend time outdoors and make a point of narrating your world for your child.
• Foster respect for the environment from day one. Teach your child not to litter–if you see trash on the ground, pick it up and carry it with you until it can be thrown away.