Hey everyone!
I've got a two-year-old toddler who is having trouble expressing his needs and feelings. He often throws tantrums when he's frustrated, and I'm not always sure what's bothering him. I want to teach him how to communicate his needs and feelings effectively so we can understand each other better and avoid meltdowns.
I've tried talking to him calmly and asking questions, but he's still too young to understand some of the nuances of communication. Are there any techniques or strategies that have worked for you in teaching your toddlers how to express themselves? Any resources or books you recommend?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hey!
I totally understand what you are going through. My son was also struggling with expressing his feelings and needs when he was about the same age as your toddler. What worked well for us was encouraging him to use his own words or actions to express himself.
Whenever he felt anything, instead of grabbing something or throwing tantrums, we encouraged him to use his own words to express himself. Initially, it was quite frustrating, but I realized that I needed to be patient and supportive.
Aside from encouraging him to use his own words, I also simplified my language and asked more concrete questions. For instance, when he was crying or whining, I would say things like "I can't understand you, could you please talk slowly?" or "Can you tell me what is wrong?" These were questions he could easily understand and provided him with the opportunity to express his feelings and needs.
In addition, I also made constant efforts to show him a lot of positive reinforcement when he did a good job expressing himself. Whether we high-fived or just gave him some few verbal affirmations, it helped encourage him to keep improving.
I hope my experience can be of help to you. Good luck, and remember to be patient and supportive!