How to Be More Responsible With Your Toddlers

Catch your toddler being good. You probably assumed the first step would be to discipline to the max, but parents all too often focus on negative behaviors and fall into a routine of ̶0;Don̵7;t do this and don̵7;t do that,̶1; especially when it comes to toddlers. When your toddler picks up a toy and puts it away without being asked, praise her. Even when something seems trivial, you can say things like, ̶0;I loved that nice hug you gave your little sister.̶1;

Don̵7;t ignore your toddler. Face it -- your toddler is not in school yet, so even if she does spend time in a preschool transition program a couple of hours a day, you̵7;re going to be with her the remaining 22 hours. Don̵7;t put your face in your phone while crossing the street and expect your toddler to make it to the other side safely. Do activities you enjoy but select those you can with your toddler, such as taking a walk or going out for brunch. Your toddler should learn to play independently, but if she comes up to you with a board game and asks mommy to play, you just might need to agree from time to time.

Set a daily routine. Kids thrive on structure and maintaining a daily schedule will help teach your toddler balance and responsibility. Her daily schedule should include time for free play. During this time, you can catch up on the latest gossip with your friends on the phone or catch up on paper work, but maintain a watchful eye to make sure she isn̵7;t getting into trouble. Setting a routine for bedtime helps promote good sleep and regular activity during the day.

Be a good role model. Your toddler is with you all day, and even when you think she isn̵7;t paying attention, she̵7;s watching your every move. It might sound creepy, but you have to be on your toes all the time. If you shout at your spouse or become flustered and angry at any little frustration, guess what -- your kid is going to learn that same behavior. If you model respect, kindness, honesty and other desirable behaviors, your toddler will emulate those as well.

Be consistent with discipline, which means you have to talk to your spouse about setting the ground rules. If Daddy is harsh but Mommy is a pushover, discipline will never work. Give warnings before discipline, and use time outs when necessary. Be very clear. Say, ̶0;If you don̵7;t put your toy away when I count to three, you are getting a time out!̶1; After your slow count to three, if your toddler doesn̵7;t comply with your request, you must follow through and give her the time out.

Be flexible with your parenting. Not all techniques work for all kids, and some kids require more or less help from you. If you find yourself constantly telling your toddler to stay out of the pantry, put a child lock on the door to prevent your kid from getting inside. Don̵7;t fall into the habit of thinking, ̶0;Oh, my kid can̵7;t do this,̶1; or ̶0;Why isn̵7;t my toddler able to do that?̶1; Have realistic expectations of your child -- she is just a toddler, after all.

Recognize your own limitations. You̵7;re not perfect. If you were, you wouldn̵7;t be reading this now. Give yourself praise for the things you are good at, for example, ̶0;I make my toddler the best mac and cheese̶1; and "I know how to play the best game of hide and seek." Acknowledge the things you could do differently, for example, ̶0;I could be more patient when my toddler acts up.̶1; Additionally, recognize when you̵7;re burned out and need a break -- watch TV and cuddle with your spouse after putting your toddler to bed or hire a babysitter and have a date night. Wanting these things doesn̵7;t make you a bad parent; taking care of yourself shows responsibility towards yourself and your toddler and it helps put you in the right mindset for proper care.