Supporting Toddlers Together: The Normalcy and Need for Partnerships in Managing Challenging Behaviors
Parenting a toddler can be stressful. If everyone can work together towards consistency, it can help to ease the challenging times.
At Creative Gardens, we believe in fostering a nurturing environment where children feel safe to learn, grow, and express themselves. Managing challenging behaviors in toddlers is a natural part of their developmental journey—and one that requires collaboration among parents, caregivers, and educators. Toddlers navigate significant physical, emotional, and cognitive changes, and their behaviors often reflect an effort to communicate or process these changes.
When we work together as a team—parents, teachers, and community—we provide consistent guidance, patience, and support to help children thrive. Here are five research-backed strategies to manage challenging behaviors effectively while building strong partnerships with all stakeholders.
Understand the Why Behind the Behavior
Toddlers often act out because they lack the vocabulary to express their needs, frustrations, or emotions. By observing patterns in behavior, we can identify triggers and respond proactively.
Tip: Use consistent observation and documentation to decode challenging behaviors.
Research Insight: A study by Degnan et al. (2008) highlights the importance of understanding the temperament-behavior connection in young children. Observing triggers helps caregivers address the root cause, not just the surface behavior.
Build Emotional Vocabulary Early
One of the most effective ways to reduce tantrums and outbursts is teaching toddlers to identify and articulate their emotions. This empowers them to seek help or solutions more constructively.
Tip: Introduce books, visuals, and simple activities that help toddlers name their feelings.
Research Insight: The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) notes that teaching emotional literacy decreases instances of challenging behavior and promotes self-regulation in young children.
Maintain Consistent Routines
Toddlers thrive on predictability. Sudden changes or lack of structure can contribute to anxiety, leading to disruptive behavior. Establishing clear routines at home and in the classroom creates a sense of security.
Tip: Create a visual schedule for daily activities, including meals, playtime, and rest.
Research Insight: According to research from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), consistent routines help toddlers feel safe and reduce power struggles caused by uncertainty.
Use Positive Reinforcement and Clear Boundaries
Focusing on desired behaviors rather than punishing unwanted ones builds a child's confidence and teaches them what is expected.
Tip: Celebrate small successes with verbal praise, stickers, or other simple rewards, while setting firm but empathetic boundaries.
Research Insight: Skinner's (1953) work on operant conditioning demonstrates that positive reinforcement effectively shapes behavior, particularly in early childhood development.
Model and Practice Calm Responses
Toddlers often mimic the behavior they see. When adults remain calm during stressful situations, children learn to do the same.
Tip: Practice mindfulness or calming techniques as a family or group, such as deep breathing or sensory breaks.
Research Insight: Research by Siegel and Bryson (2011) in The Whole-Brain Child emphasizes the importance of co-regulation—helping children learn to manage emotions by staying calm and supportive.
The Power of Partnership
Partnerships between families, educators, and caregivers are at the heart of managing challenging behaviors. Open communication, shared strategies, and mutual trust ensure that toddlers receive consistent support both at home and in early learning settings. At Creative Gardens, we are committed to creating a team approach that celebrates every child’s unique journey.
Let’s work together to turn those challenging moments into opportunities for connection and growth. By embracing this shared responsibility, we empower our toddlers with the tools they need to navigate their emotions and interactions in a healthy way.
References:
Degnan, K. A., Calkins, S. D., Keane, S. P., & Hill-Soderlund, A. L. (2008). Temperament and early behavioral adjustment.
The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL). (2008). Teaching Emotional Literacy.
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2016). The Power of Family Routines.
Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and Human Behavior.
Siegel, D. J., & Bryson, T. P. (2011). The Whole-Brain Child.