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Browsing Tag: Toddler
Obviously I’m a huge advocate of raising and educating children in a Montessori way. That’s why I work at a Montessori school and that is why I write this blog. But let me tell you, it isn’t always easy and it isn’t always fun. So here are the reasons why it is hard to be a Montessori parent. If you’d like to learn more about Montessori, make sure you read my post What the Heck is Montessori? and listen to the podcast at the end.
We also recorded a podcast about the downside to independence. Listen to it in the post or find it in the iTunes store by searching Quirky Parenting.
Every once in a while, I am faced with a toddler who is struggling with something like putting their pants on. They sit on the bathroom floor crying and getting mad. And sometimes, I don’t do anything to help them. Okay, I do something to help them, but it isn’t putting their pants on for them. That is because for some toddlers, their own worst enemy is themselves. They are perfectly capable of putting their pants on. I have in fact seen them do it before. But at this point in time they are in a mood and when faced with a small speed bump, fall to pieces instead of putting on their own pants.
But as they sit on the floor and yell for help, I tell them that by encouraging them, I am helping them. Because in the long run, self-help skills are a lot more important than me putting their pants on them this one time. In fact, Montessori is all about independence from an early age. But how do you encourage a toddler? Here are four ways I encourage a toddler without just doing everything for them.
I’ve always been told I’m stubborn. From the time I was a child, it was my way or the highway. But then I had a toddler who was just like me and I realized I didn’t have a clue what stubborn was until I had to go up against her. Now after working in a toddler room, I’ve dealt with stubborn toddlers before and I have some tricks up my sleeve. So here are 3 different ways I deal with a stubborn toddler.
All toddlers go through picky eating phases. Sometimes they are short-lived, but other times they can seem to last forever. How do I know? Well, besides having worked with toddlers for 4 years, I’m also living with an extremely stubborn, picky eating toddler right this minute. But I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve that I’m using to deal with Mac’s picky phase because I don’t want to make food a fight.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you buy through my link, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Check my disclosure page for more information.
After the two weeks I had off for holiday break, I forgot how little time we actually have after work until Mac goes to bed. We get home, rush dinner onto the table, attempt to have some family time and then scoot off to bed. So how do you make those precious few hours together less stressful? Make sure you also listen to our podcast about surviving dinner time.
Well I have come up with a few ways we have found really make our weeknights less stressful. (And P.S. do not make food a fight!)
Feeding your toddler can be really frustrating. Despite the great start I gave Mac by doing baby led weaning, she is now the pickiest eater ever. Avocados were the first food she ate and were her hands down favorite for months and months. Now, I can’t even get her to try them. The other day, she wouldn’t even eat takeout pasta that Andrew brought home for a special meal. She took two, small bites and then pushed her plate away and said
“I like sauce”
which means applesauce. We tried harder to encourage her to eat this special meal, but each time she pushed the plate away and declared
“I like sauce”
until finally we just gave in. While we had the special treat meal, she had a peanut butter sandwich and applesauce. But we are willing to deal with that so that food doesn’t become a power struggle. It is so important that you do not make food a fight with your toddler. Read on and I’ll tell you our mealtime rule with Mac. (If you want some more tips on dinner as a family, check out my post on making dinnertime less stressful, even with kids.)
When it comes to kids and sleeping, I mostly see “black or white” posts about either never allowing your child to sleep in your bed or how the family bed is the only way to go. Well, what if I told you there is a gray area where your toddler can have her own bed, but also sleep in yours. The situation I have going on right now at home is kind of the best of both worlds. Let me tell you all about Mac’s sleep habits, our unique sleeping situations (including how we part-time bed share), and the benefits of both.
Andrew and I recorded a podcast all about our experience with cloth diapering and how cloth diapering has changed over time. It is just as convenient as disposibles, in our view. Give it a listen.
Previous Cloth Diapering Posts:
5 Reasons I Recommend Cloth Diapers
A Minimalist’s Guide to Cloth Diaper Accessories
Cloth Diaper Store:
What We Used (and Recommend):
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you buy through my link, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. For more information, see my disclosure page here.
Diapers
Accessories:
This post was sponsored by WeatherBug. Make sure you check out my disclosure page for more information on sponsored posts.
I live in Minnesota where we can experience all four seasons in about 48 hours. One year on Thanksgiving it got to 60 degrees and we all sat outside on the deck. Less than 24 hours later, it snowed 6 inches. It is so important to keep up to date on not only the weather right now, but what the weather will be like all day. Technology today means we can easily check a weather app and get all of the information we need. And let me tell you, apparently a ton of parents need a weather app they can depend on, because you wouldn’t believe how some kids come dressed for school. That is where WeatherBug comes in. (Also make sure you take a look at my tips and tricks for dressing your child for winter weather.)
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you buy through my link, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. For more information, see my disclosure page here.
Every winter, parents struggle with how to keep their kids warm in the winter. As a parent, I understand the fear of your child getting cold. We always want to keep them warm and snuggly and unfortunately, that sometimes leads to parents not allowing their children to go outside at all during the winter months. But kids need to go outside in all kinds of weather. Here in Minnesota, we believe that there isn’t bad weather, only bad clothing. But what should you look for in kids winter clothes? And how do you get your kids to keep them on? Well, as a Minnesota mama, I feel like I have some great recommendations for kids winter clothes, some tips about getting them on and keeping them on, and my #1 trick for winter success.
(P.S. Make sure you listen to my podcast about surviving winter outdoors with children. It is at the end of this post!)
