Winging it vs Winning it

Always treat your child with respect
Get down to eye level and make eye contact
Never lie

You are their role model. In fact, in the first few weeks and months of their lives, you are their whole world! If you see behaviour in your child that you do not like, ask yourself why and the answer probably is that you do it too!

Your child is a reflection of yourself. Literally. They copy what you say and what you do. They revere you!

Take 10 minutes per day per child to give them your undivided attention while playing a game of their choice and following their rules on how to play it. This means no tv or music on in the background, no interruptions from phone calls, emails, or other messages, and sounds a lot easier that it is.
These 10 minutes of quality, one on one time means the world to them and is more valuable than spending the whole day around them with no attention, and is the same as being away from them all day at work.

Talk like you mean it, whether you are being serious, or joking

Instruct using positive language and choice of words
Don't throw sand out of the box
Please keep the sand inside the box

Children learn by repetition, repetition, repetition.
Explain, repeat. 25 times if necessary
Please keep the sand inside the box
Please play without throwing sand
Please play inside the box

Please keep the sand inside the box

Please play without throwing sand

Please play inside the box

eg because if you throw it out there will be no sand left to play with
Unwanted behaviour: ignore, ignore, ignore. Exception: when it is dangerous.

Do not eat the sand, it is not food and it will make you ill.
Wanted behaviour: praise, praise, praise
I like the way you are making a sandcastle

Be firm but fair. No need to be cruel to be kind.

Discipline can only work when it is positive discipline. PD rewards good behaviour so the child is encouraged to repeat it.
Negative discipline forces a child to be obedient. It creates a fear of the carer and does not understand why.

Praise using the following:
I like the way you....
Well done for trying....
Thank you for being....

Children copy behaviour, you know the saying, "what monkeys see, monkeys do"
So make sure they see and hear the behaviour you want them to learn, and make extra sure that they DO NOT see or hear the behaviour that they shouldn't learn.

Deal with anger the way you want your children to deal with anger

Toddler groups are the best thing for you and your child. There is nothing worse than being a stay at home when all you do is literally stay at home. Your child needs to be exposed to adults other than yourself, and to other children.