4. Shoving, Biting and Hitting, Oh My!
These are some of the most obvious bad habits to every parent, yet we see it on the playground almost daily. My daughter has a large sense of personal space so never crouches on other kids space, but since she’s so sweet she is often pushed (which breaks my heart!). While she’s kind on the playground, she’s been known to slap me and my husband. She gets time out every time because I never want her to think it is ok to hurt another person- no matter who it is. Habits like these have to be reinforced daily and by mom and dad if they will stick. Truth be told, it’s a message you will send their entire lives, but its much better than getting a call from their school saying they’ve bit another child. Don’t let your child turn into a bully because they never learned early on that hurting other people is bad.
5. Bribing
You probably starting coercing your toddler into behaving or completing a task by offering something in return, such as a cracker or toy. If your child caught on, they could see that good behavior is only necessary when they get something in return, and thus will misbehave if not rewarded. Suddenly the tables have turned! As hard as it might be, try and reserve rewards for good behavior for special circumstances and not for every day.
6. Screaming
No, it’s not just your toddler’s way of communicating- it’s screaming and it’s scary and it’s not necessary. Since they were infants, your babies used crying as a way to alert you of their needs. Once they reach toddlerdom, with their limited verbal skills, they still find themselves crying on a daily basis. But screaming is not the same and we both know it. You hear screamers on the playground, in restaurants and in your neighbored and none of them are being attacked like their life depended on it. If you have a screamer, you know how stressful it is and probably want it to stop. Talk to your toddler quietly so they have to stop screaming to hear you and help them verbalize what they are feeling. Don’t be afraid to say “no” to screaming and separate them from others until they stop and can communicate to you without screeching.
7. Lack of Personal Space
Obviously your toddler doesn’t understand the social norm that is “personal space,” but they do know when they are getting into something they shouldn’t if you tell them. Does your little one like going through your bag just to get to your phone? Do they love it so much you catch them going through anyones bag to get their phone? There’s no time like the present to start teaching personal boundaries and respecting other people’s property. Of course there’s an element of curiosity that you don’t want to squash, but there are limits to how comfortable you toddler feels doing whatever they want! I once heard a friend remind her 2-year old son to stay out of the room where my daughter was having her diaper changed by repeating “personal space!” She was already teaching him that it’s inappropriate to share bathroom space and it was awesome! Did he completely understand? Probably not. But he will grow up with some fabulous manners and sense of privacy!
Related Images:
Karly Wood
Latest posts by Karly Wood (see all)
- Summer Chore Charts To Keep The Kids Busy - July 9, 2026
- 8 Family-Friendly Vegetarian Dinner Recipes - May 21, 2026
- 15 Wonderful White Kitchens to Inspire Your Dream Home Design - January 14, 2019
