Discipline

Kids just get it. They learn from their mistakes quickly and can respond to correction at such a young age it is astounding. Do not underestimate a child I repeat do not! My 17month old regulary persists in asking so see my belly because "baby" is growing  in there. She pats my belly and kisses is or hugs is then will whisper "shhh" to me because our baby is sleeping in there while he or she grows. It's only two more short weeks or long depending on how you view them until we find out is Elise will be getting a baby brother or sister in September. Life is such a whirlwind but I am loving every minute of it and trying to drinkbin each moment and savor it. Pregnancy brain is getting me off topic. Story of life my life lately. 

All that to say that even a toddler can understand things you tell them. Don't underestimate what your kids can understand. I am not saying teach your two year old how to do fractions or read the encyclopedia to them but I do think that toddlers in particular are more intelligent than we give them credit for being. The fact that just telling a one year old she should not drop her food on the floor and shake your head no and the next day when they do it again then they shake their head before you can blows my mind a bit as a first time mom. I am avoiding using physical punishment for Elise as you may have read earlier and I encourage you try to do the same. Elise understands t consequences of her toy being taken away if she throws it in a rage. She understands no standing in the tub, don't touch the oven or stove and not to take toys from kids, hit or bite all though verbal communication. A child can understand your tone almost as well as an adult. If you tell your child "NO" in a low growling tone they understand you mean business. If you say "NO" with a smile on your face and are laughing a child will think you playing along with them. Please don't bite your baby when they bite you to explain no to them. That makes as much sense as throwing a toy at your kids face when they accidentally konk you in the nose with a ball. Don't change your sense of reasoning because you think you need to dumb it down for your baby/toddler. Just change how you present your reasons. Use short sentences that stick to the point. If your toddler is hitting you don't yell or get emotionally involved in the issue just say something like "no no ouch ouch I don't like that". Then remove yourself from the situation. One of the biggest ways to show your toddler consequences is to ignore them. Kids wants our attention and attention is used as a reward and ignoring you toddler for one pecten minutes is an excellent form of discipline that quickly drives the point home.