My daughter Olive is two and half years old and she is is showing a typical trait of a toddler her age, swinging dramatically from hopelessly needy to defiantly independent, sometimes in seconds. Her developing confidence is wondrous to watch, but it can also be conflicted. I watch her peering from this room, from which she has banished me, her eyes pleading with me to stay near but her hand is ready on the doorhandle to refuse me if I take a step too close.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 07:19AM 
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (2)
Dear Kate,
I don't envy your problem at all, though there is a way to dramatically reduce the inclination of your child to act in this manner.
If I may bring into this problem, my observing in the upbringing of a little girl some years ago
Firstly, I would not let your daughter believe or allow her to feel that she has developed this means as an effective instrument to dictate her actions upon your household.
Forgive me for my suggestion here, that there may be no father in the house?
Even so, your daughter and you must agree to a time out session whereby you can dicuss the futility of her actions and to seek a more adult manner in which she must be encouraged to adopt if there arrives some form of childish conflict of opinion.
No child has the right to dictate the goings-on in your household, that is an imperative!
Encouragement must be given to reinforce your house rules and conducts within your home.
Rewards and encouragement for good behavior, alternatively dissmissal to here room for innapropriate behavior
The soonest implemented the soonest you will notice change.
By all means encourage her to act in a more grown up mien.
Please email me if there are improvements in her attitudes or if this has failed.
Sometimes Mums have to be strict as is the case with fathers, for they will tolerate little nonsense from their much loved daughters.
Regards,
William Boeder.
Thanks for your thoughts William. I didn't intend for my commentary on the photo to suggest I thought that there was a problem with Olive's behaviour - though I do appreciate your tips! Regards, Kate