Happiest Toddler on the Block... (Rusalka)

adoxyinherear

I'm only, like, twenty pages in and already THIS IS MY CHILD. Anybody else read this and had some success with it?

FmrAFBrat

I've read it and figured out that my toddler has the shy personality type. Toddlerese works some of the time, but not always.

adoxyinherear

FmrAFBrat said:

I've read it and figured out that my toddler has the shy personality type. Toddlerese works some of the time, but not always.

Yeah, I'm not sure there's anything that works 100 percent of the time. But what we're doing now is definitely not working.

adoxyinherear

andrea ri 80 said:

Haven't read it but its on my list of things to do, we need some strategies for W, beyond what we've been doing (which is anticipate what sets him off and prevent it, or re-direct if that fails - we've had mixed success there).  Its just that once he gets going, there is no. stopping. him. 

RusalkaSings said

Yeah, I'm not sure there's anything that works 100 percent of the time. But what we're doing now is definitely not working.

Word. 

I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around toddlerese... I don't like the idea of using incorrect grammar to speak with her! That may make me crazy (and it just doesn't seem right). But I feel like I can mirror her emotions and use short, repetitive phrases. Or I can try. My husband's going to think I'm nuts.

JulyMomma2U2

I feel like I should probably buy this book.  Except, I likely will never get time to read it! 

We're dealing with lots of tantrums and meltdowns these days.  When DS is freaking out because he wants something, I do like PP said and I just explain that I understand what it is he wants, but that he's not allowed to have it at this time.. or that it's not "his", etc.  Whether this is right or wrong, a lot of times if he drops down to the ground to have a meltdown, I walk away.  The less I feed into it, the shorter it lasts and the less frequent they are.  This works well for us when at home, but in public or at family's houses it's a nightmare because without a doubt someone else always steps in and tries to "console" him, which instead just reinforces the tantrum.  Sigh.

KJsbabe

I use toddlereez with DD at every melt down and it definitely shortens them. We've gone from a few minuets to just seconds. I don't use improper grammar, though. I usually say something like "DD's mad! Mad mad mad!" Or "DD's wants! You want it! DD says, 'I want! I want!'" I kind of feel like an idiot sometimes doing it, but it works! lol

I also like to use "feeding the meter". I've seen a real difference between the days I use it and when I don't.

@JulyMomma2U2 If you don't have time to read the book, they sell a DVD version which is like a condensed version of the book. My DH isn't a big reader and I got to watch with him so we'd be on the same page. I like to watch it from time to time as a refresher.