When you're feeling disempowered by your toddler's refusal to get dressed, or anything else of the sort, remember this:
Playfulness is a powerful tool. More powerful than even threats or punishment or intimidation.
It guides, it influences AND it builds trust while doing it.
The calmer you stay, the less likely you are to trigger more resistance by passing on your frustrated energy.
And no, you can't do this all the time, nor will it work every single time, but it's well worth having it in your parenting approach tool belt.
Good luck out there people. Toddler will power is no joke.
Learn how to handle the endless "why" questions from your child by turning it into a time of imagination, allowing them to wonder and theorize about things, rather than just providing an answer, which can foster a sense of connection and curiosity.
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Discover how to avoid power struggles and teach your toddler to attune to their bodies by using a natural consequence when they won't put on their coat on a cold day in this helpful video that emphasizes the importance of letting them feel the cold and learn from the experience, and seeking an evaluation with a psychologist if they struggle with interoception due to neurodivergent wiring such as autism or ADHD.
Learn why suggesting activities to a bored child may not be effective as it triggers a stress response in their brain, and instead, how to hold space for their emotional discomfort so they can reconnect with their executive functioning skills in this informative video.
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