TODDLER
habit ‘MUM, WHATCHA DOIN?’ ‘MUM, WHATCHA DOIN?’ ‘MUM, WHATCHA DOIN?’ BY: LIA SPENCER If you have children, look after children, or have ever been around a child, then you are probably familiar with this situation. While you may feel like pulling your hair out in frustration at having to answer the same question over and over again, there are ways to deal with this and other potentially annoying habits most children go through at some point in their young lives. Lia Spencer asked Cathie Arndt, a co-ordinator of Maternal and Child Health to discuss why some children do the things they do, and how parents can cope.
Toddler habit #1: THUMBSUCKING Ms Arndt said that thumbsucking was very common and can stem from behaviour within the womb. “It is often used by the child when they are tired or upset as it makes them feel comfortable and helps them to self soothe,” Ms Arndt said.
comfortable in their skin and don’t have any preconceived ideas of what they should or shouldn’t be wearing, they run around generating so much heat that they don’t feel cold (which can be dangerous if they are outside in a cold environment for a long time), they want to make their own choices, and because they can get themselves naked, so why not!? Ms Arndt said this behaviour could be curbed by allowing your child to pick out their clothes or dress themselves - however odd they may end up looking. She also said to let them get naked at times, but make sure they know when and where it is acceptable and when and where it is not.
Toddler habit #3: REPETITION “I think this is one of the most difficult areas for all parents and adults involved with children,” Ms Arndt said. “When they watch the same video over and over and over and over again, or they ask the same question 79 times a day, they are not doing this to bug you, they are doing it as repetition is the mother of learning. By doing things over and over again, a child is embedding this information and each time they do a task it becomes easier.”
“Generally as children become more comfortable and confident with the world around them, they will stop experiencing the need to thumb sucking and unless they are doing it constantly then the best thing to do is let them outgrow the habit,” Ms Arndt said.
To make sure you don’t go a bit nutty, Ms Arndt suggests alternating between several activities or books that they enjoy that have repetitive theme to assist in the embedding process.
“Encourage them to only do it at home or in certain situations or try putting a glove on their hand to stop them from doing it.”
Ms Arndt said that any parents concerned about your child’s repetition with regard to speech or behaviour should discuss their concerns with a Maternal and Child Health Nurse.
“Also try asking them questions in regards the repetitive nature of the activity or the book as this will give you a bit of a breather from the Ms Arndt said that sometimes children were not even aware when they were sucking their thumb, so it was up to the parent to notify them of their repetition and might get them onto another activity,” she said. “A good thing to remember is that when children repeat they are also behaviour and remind them to stop. embedding all the good and positive behaviours and values that you “As they get older you can reason with them, explain to them why they are teaching them.” might be doing it and see if they can do something else,” she said.
Toddler habit #2: GETTING NAKED “I often used to say to my clients if I looked that cute naked, I would be naked a lot more often than I dare to be nowdays!” Ms Arndt joked. Some of the reasons children get naked is because they are 94 Peninsula Kids K – Autumn 2016
Toddler habit #4: YELLING MINE OR NO! “Children are very egocentric up until they are about four or five. They find it difficult to see something from another’s point of view, they see something they want it,” Ms Arndt said.