Self-Control
Hi there. Sam and I were in the backyard playing golf (with plastic clubs!) earlier this week when a white butterfly flew in over the fence. Sam was absolutely delighted and stood transfixed for at least 10 minutes. Watching his face and sharing this moment with him was so precious. I love being a mum!
What one thing are we basically working on all during these early years?
SELF - CONTROL
What do all these behaviours below have in common?
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•wriggling and struggling during a nappy change.
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•refusing to eat vegetables.
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•constantly 'into everything' in the house.
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•screaming and stamping when you say no.
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•getting out of bed 5-8 times every night.
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•biting/hitting/scratching other children.
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•demanding mum's attention all day every day.
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•refusing to play with their toys.
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•whining for food or treats.
The root cause of all these problems is a lack of self-control. Yes, there are other virtues lacking, but they all stem from self-control.
How do you teach your child self-control?
Basically, through play. Within the framework of a flexible routine you are proactively and positively training your child, little by little, every day.
Look at the sample schedules in Terrific Toddlers and you will notice that every activity is teaching self - control, and therefore minimizes the behaviours above. Once, a basic level of self-control is established, you can begin to work on many other virtues. Terrific Toddlers Two provides practical examples of how to teach virtues to toddlers.
