What looks like “bad behavior” in babies and toddlers is often just big feelings, big desires, and very little self-regulation colliding. The goal isn't simply to make the behavior stop—it’s to set boundaries while helping your child build the skills they’re still developing. This episode focused on what behaviors are normal around the first birthday and in early toddlerhood and what strategies you can use to address these behaviors. This included:

Reviewing research and providing examples on:

• What behaviors are normal around 1 to 2 years of age
• How coregulation, redirection, attention, boundary-setting, and other strategies address these behaviors
• Why tantrums are expected at this age

Describing strategies to use in your own parenting:

• Prevent when you can and set up the environment for success
• Set clear, simple limits and be consistent with them
• Physically intervene when necessary - block as needed
• Validate the feeling without changing the boundary
• Redirect toward an acceptable behavior
• Teach the skill later
• Practice regulation when they're already calm

Suggesting books:

• “What to Do When You Feel Like Hitting” by Cara Goodwin
• “Hands Are Not for Hitting” by Martine Agassi
• “The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions” by Anna Llenas
• “Llama Llama Mad at Mama” by Anna Dewdney
• “Little Monkey Calms Down” by Michael Dahl
• “Grumpy Monkey” by Suzanne Lang
• “When Sophie Gets Angry, Really Really Angry” by Molly Bang
• “The Rabbit Listened” by Cori Doerrfeld
• “No, David!” by David Shannon
• “The Feelings Book” by Todd Parr

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If you want more support with understanding your child’s behaviors, emotions, or development:

• Join my FREE Parenting in Real Life group on Telegram: https://parentempowerance.myflodesk.com/freetelegramgroup
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