Struggling with my toddler

[lpdmummy]

I hope everyone is staying safe during this time. I just wanted to pop on here for some advice from other mummies. I'm a single mum with a 2 year old and I'm struggling when it comes to discipline. Every time I tell him no if he's done something wrong he just laughs and thinks I'm playing a game and it's so frustrating. It's like he doesn't listen to me on purpose (I'm sure I'm not the only one) and I do appreciate at his age he doesn't fully understand. I just wanted to see if any of you have any other ways I could try to get him to listen when he's been naughty. I've tried a few different things but hasn't seemed to work. Please help, thank you in advance x

Don’t worry, it’s not you! It happens to everyone. Mine is currently at the not going to bed properly stage (I blame lockdown) so there’s hitting and slapping (from my child, not me!) and it’s a real struggle as they think it’s funny when you tell them “no”. I’ve just found if you keep consistent it helps. At 2 they are testing where the boundaries are and they need to know that you can take their anger/frustration and manage it for them (that it’s not bigger than you, which could be scary for them). Just keep going with the “no” and when he is in a calmer mood you can try to explain why you said no which may help. Distraction away from whatever he is trying to do also helps! Good luck. You’ve got this!