Comments on: Gentle Parenting Ideas from a Toddler’s Perspective

By: Terri Henry

Terri Henry — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 03:21:31 +0000

Beautiful x

By: BethanyBob

BethanyBob — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:44:00 +0000

“Plus when you get angry, your faces and voices scare me.”

I wish the other adults in the house would realize this. I’m guilty, too, but I’m also the only one looking at gentle discipline sites to try and change my behavior.

By: Dionna

Dionna — Sat, 08 May 2010 00:11:57 +0000

Corrie – here is the link I was trying to find for you! http://www.babydustdiaries.com/2010/01/fluoride-what-every-parent-should-know/

By: Dionna

Dionna — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:29:25 +0000

Thank you everyone for the awesome comments. I’ve already started writing the series about gentle parenting ideas during our problem times (tooth brushing, shopping, etc.), and I will incorporate your ideas into the post. Keep them coming!

By: Lauren @ Hobo Mama

Lauren @ Hobo Mama — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:48:35 +0000

I love this idea of considering things from my toddler’s perspective! It really makes you think.

I love your ideas, too, and will have to adopt those. One game that’s working well for us currently is pretending the opposites of things, which I think was Amber Strocel’s idea on one of my posts. If it’s time for a potty break and Mikko doesn’t want to go, I take a doll (Bob) and pretend Bob is going potty in all the “wrong” places: on the couch, on the cat, etc. Eventually this leads us, with peals of laughter, all into the bathroom and the “right” place. It helps to be very exaggerated and shocked at Bob’s antics.

Whenever I feel I need Mikko to do something, I find it works better when I let go of my timeframe and allow some extra grace for a game and delays. It’s when I get worked up about getting things DONE that we both get frustrated. It’s hard, though, to play games all day when it doesn’t come naturally anymore!

By: Corrie Kolbe

Corrie Kolbe — Tue, 04 May 2010 03:33:59 +0000

To Parsnip- why not??

Dionna- wow!! Loving the toothbrush idea! That has been a HUGE fight in our house lately. We’ve let her “do it herself” the majority of the time, but now she is addicted to toothpaste, I believe… and, okay, this is going to come off snarky, and I DON”T mean it to, but what is wrong with the flouride in toothpaste for toddlers?
Also, I like the comment about letting the kids play in the car and choose which seat they’re going to ride in. DS is about to transition to an RF seat out of the car carrier thingie, and I’m thinking that he and DD will probably have the same strap adjustments, as they’re the same in almost everything else! (Even though he’s only 6 months and she’s almost 24 months.) Hmmm hopefully allowing her to choose which seat she wants will stave off some of the unhappiness. (But that, too, is weird, because it doesn’t happen EVERY time, you know??)
Thank you for reminding us to see things from their perspective. How often we just steamroll right over them!

By: Parsnip Milkdud

Parsnip Milkdud — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:49:07 +0000

Why is that woman holding that typewriter sideways?

By: Amber

Amber — Mon, 03 May 2010 03:31:31 +0000

LOVE LOVE LOVE this. Saving it for later. Thinking of interactions from a child’s point of view really puts things in perspective. Thank you. Making games out of anything seems to be the golden ticket for the toddler years!

By: Paige @ BabyDust Diaries

Paige @ BabyDust Diaries — Sun, 02 May 2010 19:06:43 +0000

I love this post Dionna. It is one of my favorites of the carnival. I find it so powerful to think through your child’s point of view. If more people could do this it would really change the way they parent.

I have to admit that both my husband and I cried at this line: “And when I am frightened of you, I just shut down. I can’t do whatever it is you are yelling at me to do, because I am scared of you. Please, mama and papa, don’t yell at me.”

BTW, picture is priceless!

By: Melodie

Melodie — Sun, 02 May 2010 05:41:01 +0000

I really love this. It reminds me of the healthy baby handouts from the public health unit that are written as though the baby has said it. When I was a new mom and all hormonal reading them made me cry. “I need your affection. I like to be close to you. When I cry please pick me up, breastfeed me, or rock me.” (sniff sniff) :)