Challenge: 19-month-old is throwing food on floor and screaming
It sounds like you have been tagged. What I mean is that you have responded to the call and your child has your number. When he rings you answer. Unfortunately you will not like this solution. It’s simple to say but difficult to apply. You probably have an above average smart kid! You can steer him or her with love and kindness. You have been trapped but now it’s time to take back the steering wheel!
Have you heard of the word ENABLING? Enabling simply put is defined as unknowingly supporting a negative behavior. The child’s behavior gets you to pay attention. And obviously you do it do quite well and that why the child just continues to ring your bell again and again. Consider that the parent role is reversed. The child rules. The parent complies.
A solution you won’t like.
Any attention you give the child reinforces the negative behavior. So, let’s play a game. It has to be a game or you will blow your cool. When the child act up, you notice it but you ignore it.
I pity you if you give in. if you do, the bad behavior will show up again and take longer to subdue. Love your child, but continue to not love the negative behavior or respond to it. You can’t show or say anything that the child will think is a response.
Crying! It only hurts your ears and nerves. It doesn’t hurt the child! Learn to turn it off as white noise. Turn the TV volume up and sing! Stand your ground of non-emotion and no response to the negative behavior.. It won’t take too long for the child to learn that it doesn’t work anymore.
I told you that you wouldn’t like the solution.
It works. It’s called behavior modification. It works with adults as well. Key is catching them doing good and rewarding that behavior. You are not allowed to comment on the negative behavior ever again.
So how do your reinforce good behavior? You will have to on purpose look for cute and nice behavior and love all over your child. In other words, catch your child doing good! Most parents are busy with life and they don’t really watch their children. At this age, this is the time to develop loving and kind things in your kids. You reward will be in the coming years when you will be proud of your child.
Any cute and negative mischievous behavior today will be expensive to fix after the child has grown up. Imbed your values in your child today. Reinforce how much you love them. Hug with love all the time!
Question? Who is in charge today?
Answer, you are or you will be very soon!