Comments on: Trying to Understand Toddler Behavior

By: montessori_lori

montessori_lori — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 02:58:00 +0000

Another quick thought – when my friend said that she really tries to find out what the problem is when a child is crying, I don’t think it’s necessarily by asking. Toddlers don’t have the language skills necessary to express that.

I think she means by looking at cues – the environment, what the child was doing when they got frustrated, what another child might have done, etc. That’s how you solve the “mystery” of the tantrum. Observation, observation, observation!

By: montessori_lori

montessori_lori — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 18:16:00 +0000

As far as I know, what you describe is completely normal toddler behavior. They have short attention spans and short fuses. The only solution is time (as they mature) and continuing to be patient and set gentle but firm limits.

My daughter has improved greatly in this area since I wrote this post. There is hope!

By: figi

figi — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:33:00 +0000

I was really interested in what you wrote. Nothing i have read yet about toddler behaviour mentions children being happy and the next second something getting thrown and the whole play being ruined. This is constantly happening with my son.i find it extramrly frustrating as i can't usually find what has triggered his anger. 8sometimes i can but not very often)

If i ask him to tell me what the matter is he usually hits me and then goes to time out.

Some days i am at the end of my wits with him, if this has happened all day long.

Have you found any other ways of working out what is actually going on? I'm completely baffeled.

By: montessori_lori

montessori_lori — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 02:59:00 +0000

Ah, toddlerhood! It’s so fun, but it can be frustrating. I’m so glad you found these posts helpful. Thanks for stopping by!

By: Schelle

Schelle — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 21:04:00 +0000

Thanks for this post – and your blog (I shall probably be spending much time lurking here for years to come). My son is 15 months and he is starting to change from a cheerful happy lad to one who throws tantrums (and toys) at the drop of a hat. I’m sure it is frustration – his mind races far beyond his physical capabilities, and he certainly wanted to run before he could crawl. At the moment it seems to be communication problems that are getting him down. One moment he will be fine, and the next crying inconsolably. He shuts up into himself when this happens and I can’t work out what’s gone wrong. I often forget how much he understands, so gently asking him “Can you tell me what’s wrong?” is a good approach, even though he can’t talk yet (he can usually make himself understood with his “bahs” and “mm-bahs”). I will eagerly read your other posts on Montessori for toddlers, and look forward to more!