Staying calm while parenting a toddler can be a difficult task. From temper tantrums to talking back, toddlers sometimes act out to get your attention. It's important to stay calm when disciplining your toddler, so that you can model patience and keep control of your actions. Practice calming techniques and work to keep your cool even when your child is acting out. Staying calm when your child is angry or upset models good behavior for her and teaches her how to manage her own emotions.
Take a Breather
When your toddler's antics have you seeing red, take a time out if you feel yourself getting angry. Don't feed into that anger and let yourself get worked up. Separate yourself physically from the situation, if you can safely leave your child for a minute. At the very least, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, breathing in through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. If you need to stay near your child, distract yourself by thinking positive thoughts, singing a happy song or taking a break to do an activity you enjoy doing with your child until you have control of your emotions.
Play Make Believe
Parents tend to be calmer and less prone to anger when dealing with other people's children. So, the next time your toddler sends your temper soaring, take a step back and pretend he's not your kid. Talk to him the way you'd speak to a friend's child. You may find that you are able to approach his behavior calmly and more objectively.
Prepare
If you're prone to raging when parenting your toddler, prepare yourself for staying calm ahead of time. Tell yourself that you are not going to submit to anger and stick to it. Give yourself a word or phrase, such as "Relax," or "Let it go," to focus on when you feel your temper rising. Come up with a mental image, such as a picturesque landscape, that you can visualize when your toddler starts to push your buttons.
Reflect
If you find yourself angry enough to yell, don't beat yourself up about it later. Get a journal and write about what happened. Notice at what point you felt yourself getting worked up and use the journal as a way to document your emotions so that you can better understand your temper in the future before it gets out of hand. If you find a breathing technique, visualization or inspirational phrase that helps you remain calm, keep that information in your journal as well, so you can reflect on it in the future.
