10 Tips to Quit Yelling at Your Toddler

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Though young children can be as exasperating, raising your voice is a losing battle; it doesn’t discourage frustrating behavior and ultimately gets everyone more upset than they need to be and then of course, there’s the guilt and who needs more of that?

Find 10 tips to help break this very bad habit. Hopefully you’ll end up speaking a little more softly and feeling a lot less stressed.

1. Stack the odds.

Does it drive you crazy that your toddler likes to dump every foodstuff known to man on the floor? Chances are, if he can’t reach the cereal, he can’t pour them out. Basic babyproofing is a real sanity saver; the more intact your sanity, the less you’ll yell.

2. Tune in to yourself.

Make note of when you’re most likely to lose it and troubleshoot accordingly. Is it first thing in the morning before you’ve had your coffee? Then get your husband to play with your child while you savor that first cup of the day.

3. Lower your expectations. If you find yourself yelling at your kids all the time, you may simply be expecting too much of them. There’s only so long a baby can sit crammed into a car seat or a toddler can walk in a mall. Acquaint yourself with what’s developmentally appropriate and then tweak your actions; one hour-long trip to the supermarket rather than hours of errands will reduce whining and by association, yelling.

4. Just whisper. It sounds weird, we know. But if your child has to strain to hear you, he’s less likely to tune you out and it’s nearly impossible to sound angry (and scary) when you’re speaking softly.

5. Be strategic. Find ways to accomplish stressful tasks without your children in tow.

6. Adopt a mantra. Find a word or phrase to distract yourself from yelling and remind you that your child isn’t trying to drive you nuts, he’s just a little kid after all. “He’s only 1, he’s only 1,” is one example. Repeat it to yourself several times when you feel like you’re about to explode.

7. Try the big squeeze. Squeezable stress toys such as balls and dolls are designed to keep executives from blowing their stacks. There’s no reason why they can’t work for moms, too!

8. Get physical. For some yelling offers a form of physical release. Jogging can distract you and give you the outlet you need when you feel like yelling. You probably won’t want to do this in public, of course, but at home anything goes. Who knows? You may lose a few pounds!

9. Ask for help. Taking care of young children can be exhausting to say the least and yelling is a definite sign of stress and fatigue, which means you need (and deserve) a break! Have your husband or a trusted babysitter step in for half a day so you can get some much needed time to rejuvenate.

10. Beat it. If you know you’re going to lose it and you’re on your very last nerve, put your toddler in a safe spot, and walk away for a few minutes. Tense and release your muscles or count to 10 to help calm yourself down before you go back to your child.

Source: Parents