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It should be such a simple thing — you offer your child a list of logical explanations; you make them promise to behave. All actions after that should be peaceful, you believe. Your toddler will not repeat what has been proven dangerous. He will instead amble away, seeking out safer adventures. And you can return to your other obligations, maintaining a home and your own sanity. It should be easy from now on.
That ease disappears, however, when you hear a sudden crash from the living room. Your child has returned to what he swore to never touch. And the consequence is a circle of broken glass and a collection of minor cuts. He’s hurt; you’re frustrated; and any reprimands you could offer wouldn’t be heard among his rising wails.
Perhaps this isn’t so simple, after all.
Toddlers — despite their appearance — are not tiny adults. While this seems to be an obvious truth, it is still often ignored. Parents believe they can debate with their children, offering only words. They provide reasons but no proof, and are then stunned when accidents occur.
Forming an impression with those who are under the age of three demands more than logic. It instead requires examples and consequences. Rules must be shown, not told. And this difference is imperative.
