Hoping I can tap into the collective wisdom here for something I see on the horizon! My daughter, Eloriana, is 16 months old, and while she’s the absolute light of my life, I’m starting to see the early signs of the classic toddler stage. The determination is getting stronger, frustrations are bigger, and we’ve had a few instances of testing boundaries (like trying to climb things she knows are off-limits with a little smirk!).
I’m a planner by nature, so I want to be proactive about how we approach discipline and guide her through these big new emotions. I’ve been reading up on gentle parenting and responsive discipline, and while I love the philosophy, I’m trying to figure out what it looks like in practice. It’s one thing to read a theory and another to implement it when a tiny human is having a meltdown in the grocery store aisle!
I would love to hear from parents who are in it or have been through it. What strategies have actually worked for you when it comes to things like hitting, throwing, or just a full-blown tantrum? Are there any go-to phrases or techniques you use to acknowledge their feelings while still holding a boundary? I want to be empathetic and supportive, but also firm and consistent. Any advice or resources you found particularly helpful would be so appreciated!