How do you deal with demanding toddlers? Does anyone have any book recommendations?

[vincettenoir]

My toddler is at the stage where she knows what she wants but cannot communicate it so in the last two weeks the grumbling has ramped up a lot. She is also testing boundaries more and I want to know the best way to deal with all this. Can anyone recommend any books or give any general advice?

Gentle Discipline Book or ToddlerCalm depending on whether your child is an older or younger toddler, and learn some signing, I used lots of Mr Tumble and YouTube videos from the Makaton charity.

Not sure what age your little one is and how far they are from talking but maybe try teaching her baby signing, will mean you can communicate with her.

Thank you both. We were doing sign classes before lockdown but unfortunately we had to stop. Are there any videos or books on signing anyone would recommend?

If you watch Something Special on iplayer you'll be surprised at the vocabulary you can learn. I learned to sign and taught both my DC that way.

Ettie bettie signing has loads of YouTube videos, she's great

Sing and sign do an online course, my son loves these!

The best book I've read on being a parent is 'The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read' by Philippa Perry. It's not a parenting manual (she's a psychotherapist) but it she does talk about relationships and behaviours from babyhood through to the teenage years. She has sections specifically on tantrums etc.

I recommend it to everyone - it has been truly life changing for me (I'm not her agent, promise!).