Parenting a toddler
can be hard. |
Parenting a toddler can be hard. |
We have the tools to make it easier. |
Parenting a toddler can bring about a lot of feelings—for you and for your child! Immense joy and pride, humor and silliness, curiosity, and often, frustration and pushback. We understand how all of these feelings (and more) can come fast and furious, and it can be difficult to know which tools you as a parent have in your toolkit to navigate this dynamic time.
The Lovevery kits include many items to help you and your child in areas such as transitions, planning ahead, executive functioning, and making sense of the child’s changing world. Read on to learn more about how items in our kits speak to many common struggles for families. |
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My child has trouble with transitions |
This common struggle is one that can be just as frustrating for your child as it is for you. Imagine being engrossed in an activity or a game, only to be told to immediately stop and put on your shoes. Or, maybe you’re reading a really great book and someone closes it and asks you to get up and wash your hands to prepare for lunch. These moments can be startling for toddlers, and being able to navigate these transitions can be tricky. Lovevery’s Countdown Color Timer in The Investigator Play Kit allows your child to be “in the know” regarding how much time is left within a certain window. It uses red, green, and yellow to help your child get a sense of when the transition will occur. Talk to your child about how the timer will help them know when it's time to move on. They can turn the knob themselves to feel like they are participating actively in the choice. Once you are both on the same page about “five minutes left”, it won’t be a surprise when the timer sounds and it's time to transition.
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My child struggles with taking turns and sharing |
Children at this age seek control. “My toy!” or “My turn!” are commonly heard phrases as toddlers are introduced to the concepts of sharing or waiting for a turn. While your child will naturally begin to understand these concepts more as they grow, there are moments when parents can help teach them that sharing doesn’t mean losing control, and taking turns doesn’t take away their ability to participate. |
Lovevery’s Turtle Hatch Game in The Problem Solver Kit is a great way to introduce collaboration to your child through a fun, inviting, sensory experience. Through taking turns rolling a dice, your child will follow the prompts for the turtles to progress to the water before the sun puzzle is completed. This game is interactive and fun, and while your child will be introduced to sharing and cooperation, it's through this collaboration that the game is won—we are all on the same team!
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The theme of taking turns and working together also appears in 'The Playdate'. Read this book with your child and talk about what it means to work together. Validate that it's difficult when a friend takes something you're working on, and the story events to discuss strategies for moments like these. |
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My child resists change and loves routine |
Toddlers are really working hard piecing together the world around them. There is a lot to learn—a daily schedule, manners, cooperation, participating in self care and more. It's no wonder young children thrive on routine. It's no wonder that when change occurs, it can be difficult for them to adjust. Just when they’ve gotten the hang of a schedule, something changes. And while we can’t prevent these changes, we can help our children expect them and know what to do when one occurs.
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The Plan Ahead Weather Board in The Observer Play Kit gives your child a hands-on tool with visual cues that allows them to gradually take ownership over their everyday life and plan ahead. Having a sense of routine will root your child’s feelings of safety and comfort in their home environment. While you work with the board, talk about the weather patterns and how they change, and review the plan for the day. Each night, review the plan for the next day so your child understands what tomorrow will bring and how it may be different from what they expected.
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Learning how to adjust to a change is also a theme of the story 'Quiet in my Body'. The child in this book struggles with having to change his clothes due to the weather. It will be powerful to read this story with your child and discuss the strategies the boy takes to calm his body down and adjust to the change. |
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LOVEVERY P.O. Box 354 Boise, Idaho 83702
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