01/05/2024
I don't normally share 'parenting tips' because I know each child is different and what works for one child doesn't always work for another but I'm a big believer in the power of play for helping a child to co-operate and a complete stranger recently demonstrated this to my own family. We were after getting off a long flight and my toddler (almost 4) was exhausted and cranky. She had been watching cartoons on a tablet on the plane and we needed her to stop so that she could safely use the escalator. We tried giving her a countdown, calmly waiting til she was ready, validating her feelings, distracting her and all the usual techniques. Then as her discomfort escalated to screams, our best parenting strategies went out the window and we resorted to begging, bribing and losing our cool. Then an absolute angel of a woman appeared out of nowhere, approached us and said 'I'm really afraid to use the escalator. Could anyone show me what to do?' My little girl (A) calmly put down the tablet, hopped out of the buggy and walked onto the escalator to show this woman how it should be done. The woman thanked her and praised her the whole way up and we breathed a massive sigh of relief. By putting the power back in my toddlers hands and bringing in a bit of play she got right past our power battle and helped A to transition away from the screen. Since then I've been regularly using 'scardey pants' and 'silly pants' characters to help my little one to make transitions. Me, my husband and various teddies have needed someone brave or wise to show us how to buckle the car seat, find the way out of the playground, turn off the telly, brush our teeth etc. Long may it last!
