With toddlers and young children, what they see is often what you get. That's because toddler learning reflects the behaviors toddlers see in adults. Don't leave your toddler family values and habits to chance. Take three simple steps now to help toddler discipline and model the kinds of actions you want to see later in your child.

  1. Aim -- Decide what behaviors you especially value and would like to see in your children. (See list below.) 
  2. Focus -- Then think about the kinds of things children will have to see to adopt these values. 
  3. Shoot -- Finally, list the things you and other adults in your family will have to do to make sure children see what family ideas you want them to mirror. Which things are easy for you to model? Which will take some work? What toddlers' activities could you introduce to teach this behavior?

Example:

  1. I want my child to love learning.
  2. She needs to see me asking lots of questions and trying to learn new things.
  3. I will have to admit when I don't know an answer to questions. Then she can help me look it up in a book, search the Internet or ask someone else who might know. We can celebrate when we learn new things by sharing them with family and friends. I can also talk about school as an exciting place where children go to learn even more.

Every family is different. What's important to your neighbors might not matter to you. Pick your "top five" and start with those. Then move on to other areas as your children grow. If you have trouble getting started, look at this list of values that other parents have named. Choose what fits your family, and add more. Then aim, focus and shoot for a picture-perfect future!

  • Reading is useful for learning new things and for having fun.
  • Discovery is fun and can happen every day.
  • It's OK to make mistakes.
  • If your mistakes hurt someone, you need to say I'm sorry.
  • It's important to take care of the things you own.
  • Physical activity is fun and healthy.
  • Good food is for every day; sweets are for once in awhile.
  • It's OK to have to wait for what you want.
  • If someone hurts, I can help.
  • Manners make a difference, and make others feel good.
  • It's important to tell the truth.