A toddler’s tantrums are quite a challenge for parents. Because they don’t want to eat, they don’t want to go to school, they don’t want to go to bed or they don’t want to get dressed… The triggers for their reluctance, shouting and crying are many and varied.
This type of situation occurs more and more often once the little one has turned three years old. At this time, they are much more aware of their preferences and demand more and more independence. For this reason, we will repeatedly encounter confrontations and disagreements. Knowing how to manage them is key to a positive education and to prevent our son or daughter from becoming hopelessly capricious.
Focusing on the moment of dressing children, it is common for patience to be on the ropes. As a general rule, we are in a hurry to get to school or to the place we want to go. The boy runs away from us and there is no way he will let himself put the clothes on. Turning it into a battle or doing it by force, scolding the minor, will only aggravate the situation. It is better to take a deep breath and face the situation with some simple and practical advice.
You have to understand that if your child does not want to dress, it is not without reason. For some reason, he has a hard time at that point. So you must put yourself in his place and treat him with great affection. He has patience and empathy, put yourself in his place and act accordingly.
Don’t yell at him or forcefully dress him. Better speak to him in a soft tone, he acts calm and tell him that you understand and you are sorry that he is having a hard time, but that he must get dressed.
Continuing with the previous point, communication will be key to getting the little one to agree to get dressed. She flees from sentences like “you have to get dressed because I said so”. Instead, she reasons with the little one and makes him understand with arguments why it is necessary for him to let himself put on his clothes.
You can propose a negotiation so that he feels that, in a certain way, he has decision-making power. For example, offer him different clothing options and let him choose the one he likes best.
If he gets involved in the process, he will do it with much more enthusiasm. Choose the set of clothes together, let him take it out of the closet with your help, teach him how to dress himself… All this will make him feel more independent and mature.
You can tell him a story or a tale, or sing him a song while you dress him. Also pose a challenge to see who gets to put on their socks first. Or talk about other things that keep you distracted.
It is also a good option to create a weekly calendar and place a sticker in the box each day that she is allowed to dress without tantrums. If he completes the entire week, offer him some reward like watching his favorite movie or playing a game of his choice together.
