20 Valuable Tips To Better Understand Your Little Toddler

Understanding is key to a healthy relationship, and that is the gem of motherhood. A healthy relationship lays the foundation of

life for our growing toddler, and assists in shaping their views and understanding.

So, how do your improve the communication to better understand your child? An insightful article written by Dhivya explains to

us just how we have been learning to understand our children since day one.

Here are 20 tips that have shown helpful in understanding child psychology.

Do you know of any that you may not see on the list? Share them in the comments!

1. Observance Is The First Key:

One of the best ways to under the psychology of your child is to observe his or her activities.

• This will help you to know the way he or she plays, eats food, draws, sleeps, communicates with others, and the like.
• You will find many traits that are consistent in nature.
• Observe whether your child is able to adjust to changes easily or takes time to settle down.
• Not all kids have similar traits as they tend to differ in personality.
• Remember that your child too will have a special personality.

[ Read: Parenting The Highly Sensitive Child ]

2. Distinguish Your Role As A Parent And As A Friend:

You need to clarify your role as a parent and as a friend by setting a few limits on your own.

• You need to be a good friend at times because it would encourage your kid to have a pleasant interaction with you.
• Do not let your ‘parent-side’ take over while having a friendly conversation with your child. Instead, offer a wise judgment as a friend would do, without blaming your child for any mistake he or she might have committed.
• This is important because when you think like a parent, your judgment tends to get a bit different and would prevent the kids from discussing various issues further on.
• Make sure you don’t spoil your kid, but offer sufficient space to make him understand about your view too.

3. Spend Time With Your Kid:

When you spend very less time with your kid, you might not have an intimate relationship with him/her

• You have to spend more time with your child and get yourself involved in his life, know his friends and such.
• This would make him comfortable in discussing his issues openly with you.
• Whether you have a tight work schedule or an important meeting, set aside a few minutes, to stay in touch with your kid and let him know you are there for him.

4. Teach Your Child To Be responsible:

This can be the toughest thing in your life as a parent.

• As a parent you have to make your kid realize his responsibilities at an earlier stage. This will help your child in the future.
• If your child pours milk in his mug without spilling, encourage his actions and praise him for being responsible.
• If your child puts back all the toys in the box after playing, it indicates he is responsible.
• Encourage your kid, as it would help him realize his responsibilities and be independent.

5. Listen To Your Kid:

Children expect their parents to take them seriously and listen to what they are saying.

• Listen to your kid without being judgmental.
• Understand his point of view and reasoning.
• If you do not agree to something, discuss with him what your concerns are.
• Do not make it into a blame game.
• Support and encourage him. If required, tell him that what he did was not good, but you still love him.

6. Instill Confidence In Your Kid:

As a parent, you are the main source of instilling confidence in your child.

• If your child has faced a first day at school, ask him or her about the school.
• Ask them what was taught and if he liked the teacher.
• Ask about any new friend your child may have made.
• Though making friends immediately is not an easy task, you can improve his or her confidence and prepare to face the new school in a better way.

7. Ask Your Kids’ Opinion In Some Family decisions:

Children feel really important if given a chance to be part of any decision making. It makes them more responsible, and you would be surprised at how mature they suddenly seem!

• If you are setting up a new home or rearranging the rooms ask your kid’s opinion and listen to what he says.
• You must understand the idea behind the opinion of your kid rather than judging the mistakes in it.
• This would offer the confidence in your kid to discuss about his decisions in smaller and bigger things.
• This in turn would help him make good decisions while he grows up.

[ Read: Effective Parenting Skills ]

8. Stay Updated About Your Child’s Interests:

Apart from monitoring your child’s development, you need to stay updated about his likes and dislikes as it would tend to change as he grows.

• Talk with your kid to know which subject he loves in school, the game he loves to play, his favorite TV show, movie stars, music, etc.

• Take him for a movie he is interested in or plan to go for a favorite match.

• This will help in nurturing a bond between you and your child.

• This would also help you understand your child in a better way.

• To see the other 12 tips go over to Dhivya at momjunction
• Image credit: Mindaugas danus