How do I tame my 2 1/2 year old daughters behavior?
Depending on the behavior, the answer will vary. But I’m guessing your toddler is just like any other toddler–a terrible two’s? But, to start, put yourself in her shoes. Tiny as they are, those little shoes are already carrying a lot of concern. She finally has some power over her life–she can walk, and talk. Now she doesn’t have to go wherever you carry her. But when you still pick her up and take her where she doesn’t see the need to go, she is going to have a meltdown, because her power has just been overthrown. My suggestion–let her have a little power. If she’s not in danger of hurting herself or others, go with it. She has a whole day to get through of adults telling her where to go and what to do. If she gets to make a few of those choices on her own, then the ones you must make for her may not be so dramatic.
And when they are dramatic, don’t pay the least attention to her tantrums. She wants your attention, regardless of whether it is negative or positive. And when you rush to her screams and kicking and do everything under the sun to defuse the bomb that is exploding before your very eyes, she has already got you right where she wants you. Make sure you are spending plenty of time playing, reading, and cuddling with her. That way she will see that the best way to spend time together is in a positive way, not the two of you rolling around on the floor of the grocery store over a box of cookies. Instead, pick her up, put her in the cart and stroll away. Sure, you will get evil eyes, but they are not raising your child–you are. And a few embarrassing trips to the grocery store will make your child realize that tantrums are not the way to get what she wants.
You have to add firmness and mean what you say when it comes to getting on them. I have two boys and my oldest would back talk me sometimes so I make sure to put him in his room in time out and then it stops and he tells me that he is Sorry. One more thing when they come out to apologize accept it and send them back for a few more minutes because they will think that they are off the hook from being in trouble. I would just have that firmness and follow through even in public follow through when you get home. You can do time out at the store as well, I do a hands on the cart method and then put them in their room when we arrive home.
