Most toddlers can hear just fine, but you wouldn’t know it from the way they act! It’s tough to get their attention, but it’s important that they understand when it’s time to listen to you.

As a parent, it can be difficult to get your toddler to pay attention and listen, but it’s essential for their growth and development.

With a few simple tricks and some patience, you can help your little one learn to listen when it matters.

Tips to Get Your Toddler to Pay Attention and Listen Up!

1. Establish a Catchphrase

Find a word or sound that means “Listen Up!” and use it every time you want your child to focus on what you’re saying. Make sure to set a good example when you use it, and watch out – your child might start using it on you too!

2. Make Eye Contact

When you need your child to listen, get physically down on their level and make eye contact. Hold their chin gently and use your catchphrase from above to grab their attention. Over time, they’ll begin to associate your catchphrase with listening and start paying attention.

3. Focus on the Positives

Instead of just using a lot of “No’s,” try to make listening a positive experience for your child. Start using your catchphrase to praise them for good behavior, such as eating all of their dinner or putting away their toys.

4. Eliminate Distractions

Turn off the TV and step away from toys to help your child focus. When you’re out and about, try to find a quiet spot to get your child’s attention that is free from distractions.

5. Whisper, Don’t Shout

If your child isn’t listening, it can be tempting to raise your voice, but try speaking in a quieter tone instead. This will spark their curiosity, and they’ll come to investigate. Speaking in a softer voice also sets a good example for quiet behavior.

6. Try Yoga Breathing

This simple breathing exercise is a great way to get your child’s attention and help them focus at the same time. Lead them in a deep breathing exercise where they lift their hands over their head as they inhale and lower them as they exhale. This will get their attention and calm them down, making them more receptive to listening.

7. Be Patient

This goes for your child as well yourself! Remember, listening is a vital skill that takes time and patience to develop. Set a good example by being patient with your child and teaching them to be a better listener.

Getting Your Toddler to Listen isn’t Impossible

Teaching your toddler to listen can be a frustrating task, but it’s well worth the effort. By establishing a catchphrase, making eye contact, focusing on the positives, eliminating distractions, whispering instead of shouting, trying yoga breathing, and being patient, you can help your little one develop their listening skills and set them up for success in the future.

Practice with the day-to-day stuff so that in an emergency, your child will have the skills to pay attention when it really counts.

Looking for things to do with your toddler? Check out our list of our favorite books for 2 year olds!

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Childproof the Back Door and Window
This last trip, I put my toddler’s car seat behind the front passenger seat instead of in the middle. It made it easier to hand him things and keep an eye on him. If your toddler will be next to a door, be sure to check your owner’s manual to figure out how to prevent him or her from opening the door or window while you are driving.

Pack Plenty of Snacks
On a long car ride with a toddler, snacks are more than just food. They are entertainment. Pack interesting snacks and plenty of them. For great healthy toddler snacks for traveling, read: The Best Healthy Toddler Traveling Snacks

Have More than One Sippy Cup at the Ready
At home, your toddler may only drink one cup of juice or milk in an hour or two, but prepare two cups at least before you leave and any time you stop. Toddlers are notorious for “accidentally” dropping cups in the car and the last thing you want is a toddler screaming for juice when you are on the highway. I just used an insulated lunch bag to keep them fresh.

Keep the Essentials in the Front Seat
This really goes without saying, but think about what you will need quick and easy access to when you are driving. Your cell phone, sippy cups, snacks, little toys, etc.

Pack a Riding Toy
If you have the room, consider packing a riding toy. This was a life saver on a 10 hour drive I took recently. Every time we stopped, I found a safe place and let my toddler ride his little heart out. He had more fun than if he was just running and was completely tuckered out when we got back in the car.

Play with the Balance on your Radio
Most car stereos have the option to make the music louder either in the front or the back. When my toddler is sleeping, I listen to books on tape with the balance set so that it is louder in the front. When he is awake and listening to toddler music, I change the balance to the back so that I can think.

Try to Avoid Traveling with a Dog
I have a great dog who travels very well, but traveling with a dog is a totally different experience when you have a toddler and no adult help. If you have help, one person can take care of the dog’s needs while one person takes care of the toddler’s needs. If you are alone, you have to do it all. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it can be. I had to leave my dog in the car to take my toddler to the bathroom (a 15 minute adventure). Even with the windows cracked and the moon-roof open, I was given the third degree every time. I am not sure what folks expected me to do, but next time my best buddy is going to stay home.

Plan for a Much Longer Trip
On my last adventure, I ended up stopping about every hour and a half for 45 minutes to an hour. (I was traveling with a toddler and a dog.) My 7 hour trip ended up taking 10 hours. Maybe you will get lucky and your toddler will sleep for much of the trip (mine did not), but just be prepared to make a lot more stops than normal.

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Towels and bathrobes are a necessity in kids’ bathrooms. You will especially need them for your little ones. While you can use plain towels or bathrobes, you can also look for more colorful ones that your kids will surely love. In addition, they will appreciate it more if you have their names embroidered on their own towel or bathrobe.

Bath time is simply not complete without bathroom toys. Bathroom toys come in different shapes and sizes but the most common of them all are the animal-shaped ones. The rubber ducky in particular is a long-time favorite of both toddlers and parents. Along with bathroom toys, you can also make use of a good bathroom sponge shaped in your kid’s favorite animal.

Since your children would probably have tons of bathroom toys swimming in the tub, you would need a toy holder for them. Toy holders are what make the bathroom free from clutter. Look for a toy holder that is made of plastic and has suctions that allows you to attach it to the bathroom wall.

For the safety of the children while taking a bath, make use of a rubber mat that you can place on the bathroom floor and the floor of the tub. Children love to move a lot while taking a bath and having a rubber floor will keep them from slipping and falling. Step stools are also necessary since they allow your kids to reach the sink and brush their teeth on their own.

These may be of little significance to you but kids would appreciate it if you supply them with these useful bathroom accessories. Bathroom accessories may offer your kids fun and even safety up to a certain point but nothing can replace your presence in the bathroom while your children are taking a bath.

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But we know regular visits to the dentist are important to your kid’s health and well-being.

Since your kid’s teeth are growing so fast, they might experience the dentist office at least 10 times before they even hit kindergarten. So we just want them to feel comfortable and relaxed.

Plus, your kids will visit the dentist at least twice a year throughout their lives. So it’s our job as parents and dental professionals to show them how good their regular visits are for their teeth and smiles.

To help make future visits more fun, here are a few simple things you can do.

4 Steps to Get Your Kids Excited for the Dentist

1. Start Early

You might think your child is too young. But children should visit the dentist at least once before their first birthday or as soon as their first tooth is visible.

Start them early so it’s not an unusual thing. The more they know the office and the staff, the more comfortable they will be visiting.

They might even love the friendly staff so much they get excited to visit.

2. Teach Kids Why They Go to The Dentist

We may know why it’s important to take care of our teeth and regularly visit the dentist but maybe your kids don’t quite understand yet. Read them a fun book about going to the dentist or show them a video.

I bet your kids love YouTube, don’t they? Seems like kids want to watch videos all day, so why not bring the knowledge to their preferred channel?

Show them fun videos that explain the dentist office in an exciting way.

3. Keep It Simple

The dentist is no big deal! Don’t worry your child’s sweet mind by going into specific details and over-explaining.

Keep the conversation light and positive. Try to avoid words like needle, pain, or shots. The staff is trained to know this and can help your child feel comfortable.

Parent’s magazine suggests explaining to your child that the dentist is just going to check their smile and count their teeth. Sounds fun, right?

4. Play Pretend Dentist at Home

Kids love to play pretend especially when their parents get involved. All you need is a toothbrush and a good imagination.

Let you kids sit back and laugh at you playing doctor dentist. Check out their teeth and reassure that theirs are strong and healthy.

Hold up a mirror so they can see you counting their teeth. Then, switch it up and let them play doctor for you. They’ll love it!

And after their visit. Make sure they get a sticker or small toy for being good patients.

However uncomfortable dental work can be, we all know it’s necessary. And it’s really not that bad.

We hope these tips have helped make your visit a positive experience for you and your kids.

The post Get Your Kids Excited for the Dentist in 4 Simple Steps appeared first on Wild Edisons.

Once you’ve recognised the fact that your toddler is prepared (regardless of his age), understand the following simple and easy advice and start potty training your young boy!

1. Make sure that your child has a well-established daily program and in addition that there are not any disturbances which could very well get in the way of him being open to the new understanding of using the potty. For example a new baby in the house, being away from the home, strain in the home in between mother and father and so on. The less other things happening in the home, the more reactive your son is going to be.

2. Allow him pick a potty he loves – one particular which he can say is exclusively for him and is special to him. Choose one that has a high lip at the front which ought to assist him not showering wee all over. Remember to let him sit down on the potty prior to coaching him to wee standing up because normally wees and poos come together! A stool may also be beneficial when he is prepared to stand in the bathroom – he can use it to reach the sink to wash his hands.

3. Lead by example, allow him to go to the loo with his Dad or Grandad or an additional trusted male family member or friend to see that it is entirely all-natural to use the potty or toilet and when he is ready he can stand to wee too!

4. Set aside some free time when your boy can run around the house without any clothes from the waist down. During this time keep the potty close at hand and recommend every now and than that he just sits on it. If he scores a hit give him lots of positive feedback and if he does nothing at all give him praise for just sitting on the potty.

5. Let your youngster just sit on his shiny new potty – to begin with let him maintain his nappy and trousers on. As soon as he is happy to do this try suggesting that he takes off his trousers and nappy when sitting on the potty. If he refuses do not force the problem – he will attempt when he is prepared.

6. Be sure that your son is dressed in clothes which he can quickly pull down by himself – forget zips and all-in-one outfits for a while. Inform him this can be what grown up boys do to visit the toilet.

7. If you encounter resistance when teaching your boy how to use the potty you might try making use of his favourite toy to demonstrate how you can use the potty.

8. Decide on some “big boys” pants collectively. Wearing these will probably give him his 1st experience of how uncomfortable it really is to be wet. This could be adequate to encourage him to use the potty.

9. Reward Charts are great! You will find loads to choose from or make one with him – a reward might be some simple like a sticker or perhaps a small sweet. A little incentive can frequently go a long way!

10. There’ll always be the odd mishap now and then, in this instance stay calm, do not give out to him as this may possibly only serve to undo the good work you and he have achieved thus far.

Bonus tip! Always, always focus on the positive! There are numerous steps to potty training, for instance pulling down pants, not weeing a bit on the floor, washing hands, flushing the toilet, etc. If your boy forgets to do one of them, simply tell him he’s great for doing the items he DID do well, not the one thing he forgot. There’s always the next occasion to practice the missing link.

The post Top 10 Tips for Potty Training and the Most Important Tip of All! appeared first on Wild Edisons.

Well, when children reach the age of three, they begin to take up a number of skills. They should begin to have an increasing vocabulary of about 1000 words and start making longer sentences. They start practicing their vocabulary and talking nonstop and the parents are advised to make them continue.

Potty training is normally over at this stage but some of them would still continue to have some little difficulty controlling urine so the bed wetting may continue till they are at least five years old. You will also notice that they will be using alphabetical letters and more figures.

The fast growing three year old children will start counting their fingers and indicate their age with their fingers when asked. They also begin to talk about and recognize some colors.

It is amazing that at this age, the children can start practicing their social skills, and if they are at a daycare or what is called preschool, they would take each and every one of their classmates as a dear friend.

This is because they still do not know the meaning of the word friendship, and they only appreciate the little time they spend playing together. You would be surprised that some toddlers would start having imaginary friends. Parents are advised not to give it much thought.

Playtime is therapeutic and is good for your three year old because even when they get so engrossed into it and start working out emotions over teddy bears and toys, it would still be part of their growing up.

Remember your child might still be feeling a bit insecure at this age so she will use security objects which he or she would keep clinging on but this should not worry you one bit. Again at this point the children become annoyingly over active to the extent of being a handful and a headache. Never mind, in the end the rewards would be greater, so keep focusing on this.

The writer also often gives advice about topics including stainless steel shelving and wood storage shelves.

The post The Developmental Learning Of Children When They Turn Three appeared first on Wild Edisons.

There is something in a little girl’s heart that makes her want to feel loved and cared for. Aside from desiring this kind of feeling, they also want to make sure all their loved ones are never lacking in hugs and kisses. That gives us the idea that cuddly toys such as stuffed animals and life-sized baby dolls are ideal toys to buy for your little girl.

Cooking toys are also a favorite among little girls. Your own princess will surely love the idea of owning her own cooking utensils. Buy her a chef’s set complete with cooking accessories and a chef’s hat. Wrap things up by purchasing a teatime table for her that includes a table, some chairs, and a set of teatime utensils made of plastic.

Encourage your child to stay active by giving her rideable toys including a rocking horse or a go-kart that she can drive. Ensure the safety of your baby girl by building a pen where she can race around with her toy car. Likewise, place rubber matting on the ground around her rocking horse to caution her in case she loses her balance and fall to the ground.

You will probably find a lot of educational toys in the market today that can help develop her cognitive skills. These types of toys now come in different forms, shapes, and sizes. Some are digital and some others traditional. Either way, they can all prove to be effective not only in entertaining your little girl but in helping her build up her important learning skills.

You have to understand that little girls are far different from little boys in terms of personality. While little boys love to play the little warrior, girls usually play the princess waiting for the prince charming to save her. Take these things into consideration the next time you’re going to buy something for your baby girl.

This writer additionally often gives advice about subjects including the play tea set and wooden play kitchen.

The post Most Suitable Gifts For Your Daughter appeared first on Wild Edisons.

• Design a simple puzzle for your toddler by gluing an interesting picture to a cardboard and cutting it into five or six pieces. It’s easy and cost-efficient!
• Engage your toddler in playing with dress-up clothes with buttons and zippers.
• Allow him or her to enjoy tearing those scrap papers of yours. Over an empty basin or box, probably. It will make for easier clean-up!
• Make play dough that your toddler can roll, pound, and squeeze. Here’s how: mix together 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water, and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Put food coloring in the water if desired. Add more flour if the dough is sticky. Store in an air-tight plastic bag or container until it is not sticky anymore. Wooden popsicle sticks and cookie cutters may be used instead of real knives that may come out to be unsafe.
• Remember to keep safe all the time! Let an older toddler use safe kitchen tools–a wooden spoon, plastic knives and forks, to use with play dough.

Provide and allow the kids to do simple chores. Toddlers use the muscles in their fingers and hands to do things for themselves.

• Follow a basic schedule and stick to it. Planning your day allows time for your toddler to wash, dress, and feed him- or herself. The child may take longer to put on sneakers than you do, but him saying, “Me do it!” or “Ako na!” are markers of pride.
• Arrange your home in a toddler-friendly manner. A refillable pump soap dispenser is easier for your toddler to use than a bar of soap, and a small plastic cup fits in the toddler’s hand. Keep the child’s toothbrush where he or she can reach it.
• Oftentimes toddlers imitate chores such as sweeping or mopping the floor, mixing up a beverage or simply switching off the electric fan. Allow and not hinder their desire, for as long as it is safe. It will be easy to just say, “You’re too little to do that” or “Marurumihan ka!” But remember that words such as those are discouraging and spirit-dampening. Let them give it a try. Sure, the task will take longer to do but it is confidence-building for him or her.

Toddlers learn most experimentially. They learn about writing by scribbling, watching you write, and seeing words around them.

• Look for inexpensive large pads of paper and large, nontoxic crayons, and washable markers. Save scrap paper and paper bags. Keep a supply of drawing and writing materials where your toddler can reach them.
• Invite your toddler to get some paper and crayons so you can write together. The child will learn about writing by watching you make a list, sign a check, or do a crossword puzzle. The child might even begin to scribble after observing. His or her scribbles are a way of copying what you are writing.
• Point to written words around you and read them out loud to your toddler. “Here comes our bus. It says ‘Baguio‘ on the front. That’s where we’re going.” “The speed limit reads 40 kph. Forty is four-zero.”

The post How to Help Build Your Toddler’s Muscles For Writing appeared first on Wild Edisons.

Read Along with your Finger
If your toddler is like mine, their eyes are attracted to movement. Although my little boy doesn’t follow word for word, he will definitely look when I emphasize a word by pointing at it emphatically.

Match Words to Pictures
If you read the word “bear” and there happens to be a picture of a bear on the page, take a second to point to it. Not only will your toddler start to understand that there is a connection between written words and objects, but they will also learn to associate specific words with things.

Get your Toddler Involved
Ask your toddler to look for objects in the pictures. Talk about the story and try to relate it to an experience they had first-hand. “They are having a picnic. Do you remember when we went on a picnic?” Ask your toddler what they think will happen next or how a character might be feeling about a situation. “Do you think the dog is sad?”

Hunt for Alphabet Letters
For some reason, my toddler loves the letters “O” and “S”. Whether prompted or not, he will happily point out all of those letters on the page no matter how small the type. Hunting for letters is a great way to practice the alphabet with your toddler.
Let your Toddler Choose the Books
Sure, you may find yourself reading the same book over and over again for nights on end, but there is a reason your toddler loves it. They will be more engaged in books that interest them. Plus, memorization can help toddlers learn to read sooner. Of course, it is good to expand their horizons every now and again. We normally read two books before bed, one that our toddler chooses and one that we chose. Sometimes, our book becomes his new favorite.

Read to your Toddler Slowly
Your toddler will get a lot more from reading if you slow it down a bit. Their brains can process to stories and words better and they will have a chance to process what you are reading.

Make Reading to your Toddler Fun
Speak enthusiastically and use different voices for different characters. Your toddler will pick up on your excitement and they will WANT to read with you.

The post Don’t Read to Your Toddler…Read WITH Your Toddler appeared first on Wild Edisons.

So what should parents do? Parents should let their children know what is coming. Spirited children need events spelled out to them. They can become anxious when they can’t predict what’s coming next. So when it is time to leave the playground, it is recommended that you tell him what you are going to do next. You can tell him or her details like: you’ll go to the car, we’ll drive straight home, find Sis and Dad there, and have spaghetti for dinner.

Parents need to be clear and consistent. Children need security and consistency of clear rules and set limits. Thus, if naptime is after lunch and your child does not want to nap, be firm and confident in enforcing his or her rest period.

Physical contact is also important. Children need connection. So, it is important that you spend time to cuddle with your children or play with them or give them a backrub before bed. Physical contact lets children know that they can trust you to be there for them. This can also help make them become more independent.

Creating a “yes” environment can also help control your children. Parents should let their child pour their own juice, use a fork, and put on his own shoes. It doesn’t matter that it would be a little messier or it takes a little longer. Letting your child do these little things can help increased independence and cooperation. Parents should also ensure that there are no danger spots at home. The more child friendly your home is, the less you’ll be fighting with him or her to keep away from special things and places.

And more importantly, parents should soothe their child’s senses and acknowledge their child’s feelings. Soothing their senses will help wind down when your child’s intensity level starts to rise. You can give your child a warm bath on a cold night, put a cool washcloth on his forehead on a summer afternoon, or let him play with his rubber ducks in the kitchen sink while you’re cooking. Parents should also talk to their toddler and let the child know that he is not the only one who is overcome by difficult emotions sometimes. Remember not to become angry with the child when your perfectly logical explanations don’t result in his quick compliance.

These activities can help you get connected and empathize with your child. It will help your child learn to trust you and become more cooperative with you.

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