I've been struggling a lot lately with getting through the day without major meltdowns (on my part and DD's). I kind of have the winter blahs and am feeling like a bad mama. I was thinking we could share our tips and tricks for getting our kids to cooperate. I need some inspiration!
Here are mine:
For brushing teeth, we talk to the things living in her mouth. Sometimes it's dinosaurs and hippos, other days it's Bill, George and Steve from Curious George. This has worked for quite a while with us.
DD is potty trained, but occasionally she says she needs to go and then tantrums when we actually get to the potty. I just made this trick up today- there's a little animal in the potty (frogdog, because I can only get so creative) that only eats pee and poop, and we need to make sure he's not hungry. She totally fell for this one today, and happily peed after she almost had a serious meltdown. This one may backfire, b/c she has put her head a little too close to the toilet for my comfort today, LOL.
For doing saline spray at night (another new one) - I told her there were tiny flying hippos in her nose, and that if we shoot them out with the saline, then they will come with us to spin around and get dizzy. She still didn't like the saline part, but she loved the spinning, so I think it will go over a little better tomorrow.
What are your tips/tricks?
Re: Toddler parenting tricks?
I think you're very creative with these. I'm trying to think of what we use.
Brushing teeth - we have a song "Up like a rocket, Down like a plane, back and forth like a choo choo train" we've used that since she was like 2. sometimes we replace choo choo train w/ Thomas choo choo train or Dora Mermaid or some other character that she likes. We also play a game of "find the cavities" and they run around her mouth and I have to catch them so she can spit them out. We are screamign "Get outta my mouth cavities" and they have a party on her tounge so we have to brush them off and spit them out.
Calling food different names: broccoli used to be fairy trees, she'll eat it now as just broccoli. Danielle's Favorite...whatever. It's usually Danielle's favorite chicken which is no real recipe just pretty much however i cook it i call it her favorite. Danielle's favorite salad...danielle's favorite corn. You get the picture ;-) Also every meat is chicken...pork chops, steak...it helps some but she's not a big meat eater.
Daddy used to have to go in her room and capture all the witches, ghost, cow shadows, whatever in her room. IT was the cutest thing EVER...he'd clap his hands really loud around "them" and run to the door and throw them out...she was cheering the whole time. Yeah Daddy get 'em Daddy...over there is another one Daddy.
For tooth brushing, we sing the ABC song, so she has an idea of when its going to be over. Then afterward, I give her "Evie's turn" to brush. We do ABC's on top and ABC's on bottom.
For temper tantrums, I ignore her completely and do something she loves to do. She eventually stops her crying fit and comes to me to participate. Worked last night at bedtime when she stood at her door crying to go downstairs, so I played with her Eric Carle flash cards until she decided to come join me, as if nothing had happened.
I wish I had a trick for eating.
For washing her hair, I ask her to look at the ceiling and tell me what she sees up there. She sees kitty cats, puppy dogs, frogs, fish, etc. This way I can rinse her hair without water & soap getting in her eyes.
Distraction is a huge tactic for me.
oh also, we don't have issues (yet) with bedtime delaying. Our rule is that once we go upstairs after dinner, she doesn't come back downstairs. And once we go in her room after her bath, she doesn't leave her room.
If she does need something, my husband brings it up. I know my friend goes downstairs a hundred times a night with her daughter for juice or an apple or whatever. I refuse to do that.
But pretty much we know what she will want and have it on hand. She has never really thought to ask for much beyond some milk and kitty.
Once she didnt eat much that day and asked for cheese. That went on for 3 nights and then stopped, probably because she couldn't go get it herself.
Gosh, Lee Anne, those are super creative! It sounds like you're on the right track. Geneva is usually foiled by simple distraction. I guess we got off pretty lucky that way. If I can pull a bait n' switch on her, I can avoid any dramatics. Pens and pencils are a hot button thing with her right now. If she gets a hold of one, it's very difficult to get it away from her without histrionics. I usually take it away from her and tell her I'm putting it up and then we quickly go find something else to do.
Our tantrums are rare, but usually come when she's tired or not feeling well. I also walk away - she doesn't flail or anything, just stands there screaming.
I've also been working on perfecting my "look." My dad really uses it to full effect on Geneva and I'm getting there. If she starts up, I'll give her the look - a very serious look - and she'll get really quiet and make the same face back at me. I cracked up laughing yesterday while attempting it and had to run out of the kitchen before I got busted. But she's beginning to get the idea that I mean business when I give her the look.
For face washing, we have some washcloths with dinosaurs on them. We tell Colin that the dinosaurs want to eat all the crumbs, dirt, etc. on his face. I can't claim that though-our nanny started it and it works wonders!
We do a lot with choices: ie, if you continue to do <insert misbehavior>, you will have to go to timeout. It's your choice if you want to go or not. This has only recently started to work as he's gotten more self control.
Sometimes it's exhausting trying to redirect, phrase things in another way-it's good to hear what everyone else does!