Let’s face it, parenting a one-year-old can be hard.How do you teach a 1-year-old behavior and discipline? What do you do if you find your toddler hitting others?The parents among us will be glad to hear that this article provides a helpful introduction on how to discipline a toddler and lays out some ways to deal with bad behavior productively. Disciplining children (especially 1-year-olds) is no mean feat, but with the right knowledge and advice, it can be child’s play in no time!If you were looking for a host of discipline tips for parents, look no further and read on to find out exactly how to deal with your mischievous toddler and how to get your child to behave.If you find this article about discipline for 1-year-olds helpful, then you should take a look at this one about how to handle [12 month sleep regression] or this one about the milestones you can expect with a 16-month-old too?What Does Discipline Mean For Toddlers?In this section, we focus on defining discipline in the context of parenting. A discipline strategy should naturally change according to the age of the child; there is such a thing as age-appropriate discipline for toddlers in particular, as they have a limited understanding of the world. Read on for more insights into how to educate a toddler.Firstly, it’s important to remember that discipline doesn’t mean punishment, it’s a method of training and teaching young children to make them more in control of themselves and their behavior. Discipline is often characterized by rules and does sometimes end in punishment if these rules are flouted. Discipline for toddlers should be construed as teaching them valuable lessons.One-year-old toddlers have a very limited understanding of the world; they mostly think about themselves and are primarily focused on their own needs and wants. Around the age of one, kids are also very curious, and while they are developing the capacity to move around with more ease, their capabilities are still somewhat limited. This often leads to a mismatch between their desires and abilities which can end in frustration and tantrums.Toddlers between the age of 18 and 24 months go through what is known as an ‘independent streak’, meaning they want to decide what they eat, wear, and do. They are likely to want to attempt more things without parental help and to show some rebellious instincts. This independent streak can also lead them to be more assertive about what they want and to reject your suggestions more, which tends to be particularly apparent around mealtimes. Dealing with a fussy 1-year-old can be tough, but there are plenty of tips and tricks to get them to listen to you.Disciplining a child at this age can therefore be translated as letting them explore their surroundings and learning things about themselves and the world while providing them with guidance and directions in the process, making sure they do not come to any harm or learn any harmful behaviors.At one year old, toddlers are likely to start interacting with other kids and adults around them; thus, it is important to teach them respect, compassion, and care for others.You might find around the age of one that your baby goes through a “hitting phase”. This is normal and most children go through one, but it can be concerning, and disciplining a 1-year-old who hits is particularly difficult and frustrating. Keep reading this article to find some tips and tricks to deal with this issue in particular!Lastly, it is important to note that not all children develop in exactly the same way or at the same time, and any milestones described should not be taken as absolute indications of a child’s development. However, if you are at all concerned about your child’s anger management or emotional development, or if you feel they are exhibiting something which is not normal one-year-old behavior, please seek the advice of a professional who can help with any potential behavioral problems that might emerge.Tips And Techniques For Disciplining ToddlersBelow you will find some parenting tips and techniques advising you on how to discipline your 1-year-old child, shaping them into valuable members of society. Setting complicated rules for toddlers is not advised as they might be too young to understand them; instead, develop a strategy of setting limits, using positive reinforcement, and integrating play into discipline. Remember that discipline at this age should always be grounded in learning.Be Patient: You want your child to learn how to do the right thing of their own accord, not reluctantly obey you, and that takes time! Ideally, your child will come to understand why they are obeying rules and why it matters that they are disciplined and respectful instead of just mindlessly obeying orders. Understanding the rules also means that the positive behavior is more likely to stick and your child will learn to control their impulses better. Therefore, as much as possible avoid getting frustrated or angry, as your toddler will learn from your example of being calm. Avoid shouting as this tends to scare young children; they are not old enough to understand cause and effect and therefore to understand that it is their behavior that is causing your anger, so getting angry tends to be unproductive.Use Time-Outs: Establishing a word or sign indicating time-outs can be a good way to cool down bad behavior and tantrums and to gather your strength and patience before attempting to discipline your child. If there is screaming and shouting going on, it can be tempting to join in, however, that is most often counterproductive. Taking a break and spending some time to cool down before coming back to other discipline strategies can ensure you stay calm and patient in front of your child, creating the right atmosphere for good parenting. The other advantage of a time-out is that you can leave the room and show that you are ignoring your baby for a little while, which will likely make them crave your attention. If they know they won’t get any attention when they are in a time-out, they are much less likely to repeat the behavior that got them there in the first place.Connect With Your Child: Create a healthy, safe, and loving environment around your young child so that they feel comfortable. Children are more likely to listen to you if they feel safe and attended to, so make sure to spend time with them, pay attention to them, and tend to their needs, as they are more likely to reciprocate! Parenting and teaching discipline is a lot easier when kids feel like you have their best interests at heart.Track Their Behavioral Patterns: In a journal, app, or just in your head, make a note of every time your child has a tantrum or throws a fit. Listen to them and pick up the cues which tend to indicate that they are in a bad mood or simply uncomfortable. Try to detect whether there are times of the day when your child is more likely to act out or particular situations which they dislike and attempt to avoid those where possible. This prevention might lead to fewer tantrums.Set Some Rules: Around the age of 1 year old, toddlers don’t understand everything so it is not the time to teach them to clean or keep things tidy, but it is vital to set a handful of easy and simple safety rules such as no touching hobs, setting some areas as off-limits or introducing a rule about not climbing up the stairs unattended. Try to demonstrate these rules when you set them, using gestures as well as words.Use “No” Sparingly: Perhaps counterintuitively, you should avoid using “no” when you are trying to talk your child out of bad behavior; using it too much means it will lose its impact. Reserve it for dangerous and imperative situations when you really need it, using alternative negative syntax at other, less pressing times.Be Consistent: It is vital that both parents or carers stick with the same rules and enforce them consistently as building habits is hard and takes a lot of practice, especially for a baby. At one year old, your toddler’s memory is improving but it can still take a while for them to internalize the rules you are setting, hence the importance of consistency and repetition.Set Boundaries: Take concrete steps such as baby-proofing and barriers to block access to certain areas that you do not want your child to access, but also explain that some areas of the house or street are off-limits. Make sure to explain why using verbal and gestural cues (such as, “this is sharp” or “this is hot”) and miming pain to illustrate your point.Use Positive Reinforcement: Introduce consequences for your toddler’s good behavior, which is as easy as smiling at them, taking a gentle and attentive tone, using affectionate gestures such as a hug, or giving them praise. Praising good behavior means your toddler is more likely to repeat it. Try to pay attention to your child when they are behaving well, as craving attention is often the reason they act out. However, don’t turn this into bribing and rewarding good behavior with a treat for example; your child needs to learn to behave for the right reason, not because they will receive something in return.Change Your Tone: The way you speak is vital when you are trying to discipline a toddler. Firstly, make sure you use a tone of voice that is different from your usual way of addressing them, so they understand that they should be paying attention. Make sure it is not violent or aggressive, just assertive and confident. It could also help if you get down to their level (physically) when you are explaining something or trying to teach them a lesson.Demonstrate: It’s all very well instructing your toddler to make some changes or not do something, but it can make a big difference if you physically show them what you mean instead of only speaking it. Therefore, when you are disciplining your 1-year-old, make sure you are using both verbal and non-verbal cues. This could be as simple as guiding them away from surfaces that are off-limits, waving your finger to indicate they are not allowed to do something, or demonstrating that a certain action could hurt them.Distract Them: If your child is getting irritated or impatient, or perhaps being very stubborn, redirect their attention to another activity that might distract them. You could sing, count or speak to them, for example, or make silly faces so their attention reverts back to you. If your little one is getting aggressive or wants to touch something they shouldn’t, try bringing out one of their toys or something else they might want to play with.Stop Them Hitting: Hitting is among the 1-year-old behavior problems that develop in most kids. It is hard to deal with, however, there do exist some ways to cope and dissuade your baby from hitting. Firstly, you should try to understand why your baby is hitting. Is it for attention? Because they are angry? Because they don’t understand the consequences? Your baby might be hitting if you are removing one of their toys or trying to change a part of their routine, for example. Once you identify the time when your baby hits, it is easier to address. Use the same tips and tricks outlined above, making sure you remain calm and composed and explain calmly that hitting hurts and you are displeased with their behavior. Give warnings if they are about to hit again that you will send them into time out, for example. Most importantly, if your baby hits, do not hit them back. This ultimately teaches them that hitting is OK. You should build a strategy containing a mix of the 1-year-old discipline techniques you know work for you and your baby.If you found this article helpful, then why not take a look at other articles for parents such as the milestones you can expect with your [19-month-old] or what to do if your [3-year-old’s behavior is out of control]?
Let’s face it, parenting a one-year-old can be hard.
