Toddlers Don’t Lie — They’re Communicating  (Here’s What to Do)

"If you’re struggling with toddler tantrums and behaviors like hitting & not listening... I have a free guide for you! It’s called The Tantrum and Behavior Guide: 7 Toddler Struggles and How to Solve Them Fast—It's HERE!

Welcome to Toddler Toolkit Podcast! In this episode, we talk about why toddlers and preschoolers say 'I don't wanna go' and how they communicate distress through behavior, stories, and resistance.

We'll explore how different rules and environments can create nervous system distress in children and how parents can respond effectively.

This episode is useful for co-parents, married parents or partners with different parenting styles, grandparents, daycare transitions, and more. We will also cover five common ways toddlers communicate nervous system distress and discuss how to respond without shutting them down. Join us to learn how to better understand and support your child's behavior and meltdowns.

00:00 Welcome to Toddler Toolkit Podcast
00:03 Understanding Toddler Communication
00:16 Why Kids Say 'I Don't Wanna Go'
00:22 Nervous System Distress in Toddlers
00:48 Toddlers Don't Lie: A Deeper Look
02:04 Behavior as Communication
03:39 Five Common Ways Toddlers Communicate Distress
04:23 Avoidance as a Coping Strategy
05:19 Symbolic Communication: Making Up Stories
10:57 Fear of Being Alone: Sleep and Separation
13:05 Dysregulation at Pickup and Drop Off
14:21 Clinging to One Parent
15:20 How Not to Shut Down Your Child's Distress
17:55 Clarifying the Truth Without Teaching Fear
21:27 In Closing: Supporting Your Toddler's Communication
22:50 Resources and Next Steps

------------------------------------------------------
"If you’re struggling with toddler tantrums and behaviors like hitting & not listening... I have a free guide for you! It’s called The Tantrum and Behavior Guide: 7 Toddler Struggles and How to Solve Them Fast—It's HERE!

Watch us Chat for the Podcast Interviews with YouTube Video HERE!

Heather has her M.Ed, and a proud Twin Mama of busy toddlers. She's the Toddler Toolkit Podcast Host, a co-author of the #1 International Best Selling Book, The Perfectly Imperfect Family & the founder of the Happy Toddler, Confident Parent Cohort and Course.  You might've tried advice tailored for one child, but that's not our journey, right? With a decade of teaching experience under her belt, she's seen it all – from toddlers to teenagers in the classroom. Now, as a parent to toddlers, she's experiencing the flip side of the coin. She's discovered a toolbox to help parents with everything toddler times two!

Let's unlock the secrets to understanding toddler behavior, preventing meltdowns, and raising intuitive, resilient children.

• Grab the  The Tantrum and Behavior Guide: 7 Toddler Struggles and How to Solve Them Fast
• Check out the Transform Tantrums: A Listening Toddler In 7 Days mini-course!
• Join the Toddler Mom Community
• Follow me on Instagram @heatherschalkparenting
• Watch the YouTube channel
• Check out the blog