| Parenting is not for the faint of heart-especially if | | | | to shift from one activity to another. She may be |
| we're talking about parenting toddlers! At this | | | | engrossed with her hair clip collection one minute, |
| stage, your child starts to show her unique | | | | and singing along to her favorite children's shows |
| personality and to develop interests and | | | | the next. |
| preferences. It may be a new found obsession | | | | She is fiercely independent. Toddlers are only |
| with "princess" like dresses and hair accessories, | | | | beginning to truly see the world around them. |
| or it may be an endearing habit, like singing to her | | | | They want to discover this new world and they |
| mommy each morning. You may also begin to | | | | usually want to explore on their own. Whether or |
| notice that these wonderful qualities come with | | | | not they're prepared to admit it, they need your |
| ones that are pretty challenging! Toddlers are | | | | help and guidance. This guidance may not always |
| famous for throwing tantrums and demanding | | | | be welcome, but it's a necessary part of the plan. |
| things like baby gifts. Here are some things to | | | | She is easily frustrated. At this tender age, her |
| prepare your for parenting your toddler. | | | | abilities simply can't keep pace with her ambition |
| She will demand your undivided attention. She will | | | | and curiosity. She is determined to look like a fairy |
| want you by her side all day long! She will follow | | | | of the forest but can't put on her flower hair |
| you around as you go about the household chores | | | | accessories properly, so she becomes enraged. |
| and will want to be a part of everything you do. | | | | Though easily frustrated, toddlers are |
| It sure is nice to be at the center of someone's | | | | extraordinarily persistent, which is one reason |
| universe, but it can also be exhausting! | | | | they learn so fast. |
| She can be highly egocentric.At this age, she has | | | | She follows her own "clock." Your toddler is not |
| not yet learned how to be considerate of other | | | | yet aware that adults have schedules to follow. |
| people's thoughts and feelings. It will be all about | | | | She operates on her own time. It can either be |
| her, her, her. Her baby gifts, her story time, her | | | | extremely fast (like when she is magnetically |
| favorite TV shows, her play time. But don't | | | | pulled toward a dangerous object) or painfully |
| worry, according to child development experts, a | | | | slow (like when she insists on choosing a dress |
| toddler's self-centeredness is part of developing a | | | | and then dressing herself). She isn't the least bit |
| strong sense of self. That does not mean that | | | | worried about whether you're late for work or |
| you should keep giving in to all of her whims and | | | | that you have a pile of laundry to finish. Trying to |
| fancies. She needs to know that there are limits. | | | | rush her will only be frustrating for you both. So |
| She has a limited attention span. One of the things | | | | chill out, relax, and cherish the precious moments |
| you notice about your toddler is that she does | | | | of re-discovering the world through your toddler's |
| not stick with one task for very long. She is likely | | | | eyes. |