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Toddler Stress

This photo is licensed under cc by sa 2.0 by Axel Buhrmann

As your toddler goes through different stages of development, she will no doubt be presented with a multitude of tasks and demands particular to each stage of development, which may cause a considerable amount of stress.

There is really no way to prevent this type of stress.

Stress in everyday life is inevitable, and there is not much you can do to prevent the stress. However if you have a general idea of what stresses are normal for toddlers, you will find it easier to identify and to also deal with your toddler's stress.

If you have an idea of what behaviour is common for your tot, you will be much more effective in your parenting efforts.

It's Only The Beginning...

When in situations like these, I know just how frustrating it can be! I know how easy it can be for you to become frustrated and cause your stress to be passed on to your toddler.

Even though you should expect a bit of upheaval from time to time, take comfort in knowing that it's normal for regular fussing to continue throughout the toddler years.

However, do not let stress rule your life - as your toddler will quickly sense that you're losing ground. I know it's hard to keep your chin up at times, but at least one of you needs to be in control - and it better be you!

As a parent, there's no doubt you want the best for your children. How easy it is to forget that these cute little creatures we call toddlers can and do experience the strains and pressures of ordinary daily life, even when we strive to do our best as parents.

We like to think that our toddlers' days are packed full of nothing but joy and play, calmness and happiness - but in today's fast-paced world, this is not always the case. Toddlers of today experience almost as much stress as adults, and in some cases, more stress than adults.

This is unfortunate, as I think toddlerhood and childhood should be the best years of anyone's life, don't you?

Toddlerhood should be a time of learning, exploring, new experiences, and fun and games.

So why do toddlers get stressed? Just as we parents can get stressed over simple things such as making sure dinner gets cooked on time, or even major things such as our marriage or finances, toddlers can get stressed over things that are part of their normal development.

Many of the strains of toddlerhood are stresses that she will experience as she encounters strange, new (and sometimes frightening) situations like being pushed by another child at day care or a visit to the family doctor.

There are so many reasons why a toddler could be stressed. The most obvious ones are moving house, potty training, death of a family member, being ill, the arrival of a new sibling, and stress and tension between mum and dad. Of course, there are many others.

When your toddler is faced with any of the above situations, you can expect her behaviour to change - it will most likely get worse before it gets better. But whatever the case, it is normal.

In times like these, try to focus on being a little more understanding than usual. Try not to go overboard with the discipline aspect of parenting, as this will only add to her already stressful situation.

Here's a general rule: If YOU are stressed, then YOUR TODDLER is stressed.

So, it really makes sense for you to de-stress first, doesn't it?

Your Problem Becomes Your Toddler's Problem

Now I can't "stress" (we're talking about stress, and here's an ex-accountant trying to be funny) this enough - whatever affects you affects your toddler.

Children are more sensitive than you may realise. My youngest appears to be an extroverted, outgoing and rather 'loud' toddler, while my eldest is painfully shy.

For this reason, I initially thought that my extroverted younger daughter would be less sensitive and would need less attention than my older daughter, but it turns out that both of them need as much attention as each other, and both are equally sensitive.

So, what I'm trying to say here is that everything that goes on in your toddler's environment, whether it's good or bad, impacts them just the same.

Your toddler is really good at feeling or 'sensing' the vibes that are surrounding her. For example, you may be constantly stressed with money worries, or your relationship with your partner may not be going so smoothly at the present - your poor little one may not understand any of it, but she can sure feel it.

As much as you try to hide your stress, or pretend that it really isn't happening, your toddler can still sense it. This stress that is 'picked up' by your toddler causes her to behave irrationally, makes life difficult for you, makes you more stressed, which in turn adds to her stress.

This vicious cycle of stress is not healthy for either one of you, both in the short or long term. So please seek the advice of a professional health practitioner if stress is an ongoing problem in your life.

Read the pages below for some ideas on how to help your toddler cope with the stresses of ordinary life. Remember that these are only suggestions and I suggest that you seek professional advice before acting upon any of the information contained on my site.

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