When Greene Towne Montessori’s five Lead Toddler teachers, who combine for an extraordinary 50 years of experience at Greene Towne, get together to host a parent education workshop, parents are eager to collect whatever wisdom can be shared. Last winter, the team led a parent education workshop titled Managing Difficult Behaviors: A Day in the Life of a Toddler. “Anger and tantrums are contagious,” notes Lead Toddler Teacher Cherise Sistunk. “Be careful not to get pulled in. Be firm, but also be calm.”

Strategies for Parents to Handle Toddler Behavior

Taking Time

A common thread in this workshop was the importance of taking time. When children are growing in their independence, an important strategy is to allow more time for them to do things themselves.

Tantrums

Toddlers like to test their limits. It is important to establish boundaries with them, but understand that it is developmentally appropriate that they push back. What’s the strategy? Let them go through the tantrum as long as they have a safe space to do so. Give it time. Post tantrum, take some deep breaths together, then talk about what happened.

Parent Behavior

Parents need to evaluate their body language and verbal language. Stay calm and stay the course, with the understanding that a toddler may not like what’s happening and may react as a result. Children often mirror our moods back to us. Give yourself some time to breathe through your frustration and remain consistent with your toddler.

Exploring Emotional Vocabulary

Children, just like adults, are capable of complex emotions. “Every behavior is communication–ask yourself what your child is trying to communicate about what they need,” said Lead Toddler Teacher Michelle Nowacky. Building an emotional vocabulary can help give children more language to express their needs. Choose some books that focus on emotions and read them with your child, such as The Feelings Book by Todd Parr or Voices Are Not for Yelling by Elizabeth Verdick. Help name the emotions that your child is feeling.

Greene Towne promises an exciting year of free parent education, open to the wider community, for the 2022-2023 school year. Some highlights include: Montessori in the Home, Philosophy of Montessori Curriculum, Child Development, Toddler Life and much, much more!

Over its 55 year history Greene Towne has helped thousands of young children grow into lifelong learners and leaders. Greene Towne Montessori School serves children 18 months old through Kindergarten and is accredited by both the American Montessori Society and the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools. To learn more and to get information on future parent education workshops, visit www.gtms.org.