Toddlers
The toddler years are known to be one of the worst stages that a parent will have to endure but with a little structure and discipline, anything is possible. These are the years where you should begin to mold your child into the person you want them to be in the future. As every parent is well-aware that each child is different and they will become their own person no matter what, the best you can do in put them on the right track and hope that they follow it. Putting your toddler on a schedule will make things a lot easier for you as well. The hardest part here will be putting them on a schedule and actually sticking to it.
Tough Love
Even though you love your growing little person to death, tough love has to set in at some point in time. It is important that you realize that you do not have to spank or hit your child for him or her to get the message. Start doing things little by little and as they get used to the change, add a little more. A stern voice can get the message across better than any punishment. Since all toddlers are not the same, if your child does not respond to the strong voice, perhaps another approach to the situation may work.
Patience
Patience is a skill that many parents have but wears very thin. Putting your child on a schedule will take some time and patience is a great skill to have here. While some children adapt to routines and schedules almost instantly, others take weeks or even months to get the concept down. If you think your child falls into this category, there is no need to worry because children learn at their own pace.
Starting The Routine
Starting the actual routine will be one of the most challenging tasks that you may ever face. If you feel better by creating a chart to follow for each day of the week, it’s okay to do so. Most parents feel most comfortable starting at the beginning of the week. If your child is a late sleeper, try to have them awake by 9 or 10AM or even earlier. Toddlers have a lot of energy built up so they should have a resourceful way to burn it and get rid of it.
Planning Activities
In order for your little one to burn the energy he or she has stored overnight, they have to have activities set in place. Toddlers should be very active and have healthy, balanced diets. As far as the activities are concerned, coloring, walks, trip to the park and learning exercises are all a great start for this situation. These activities are all things that toddlers enjoy doing and they can learn at the same time. Nature walks are also fun. As you walk, you can name animals, trees and the different things that you see. Keep in mind that planning these activities will mean a work out for you as well. It is important that you are well rested as well so that you are able to keep up!
Nutritious Diet
The diet of a child is very important because they need quite a lot for their little bodies to function properly and maintain. Start off with a light breakfast, maybe yogurt or dry cereal. Breakfast should be eaten before 12PM. After you both have eaten, take a little walk or start your daily activities. Lunch should be around 12PM and should be more filling than breakfast. For lunch, you could have sandwiches, cookies and juice or something along those lines.
Nap Time
Nap time should be around 1 or 2PM, allowing lunch to be properly digested. This time should not exceed 2 hours. This is the time where you both should rest and relax. Everyone should be up and moving around no later than 3 or 4PM. Once everyone is awake, you should have dinner planned and cooking. If your child watches television, let them watch two or their favorite shows and give them a bath.
The Remainder of the Night
As far as the rest of the night is concerned, your toddler should be clean and ready for bed before dinner is ready to be served. Dinner should be ready by 6:30 or no later than 7:30PM. Once your toddler has eaten a wholesome meal, dessert may be served but plan a small activity for them to do while their food is digesting. The worst thing that you can do in this situation is eat and go straight to bed. Once 30 minutes has passed, tell your toddler goodnight and send them off to bed. You don’t have to go to bed right away, as you probably have quite a few things to do yourself. This is your time to get everything done before you call it a night. In order to be well-rested for the day ahead, make sure you have at least 8 hours of sleep.