The Independent Toddler Stage: Tips and Helpful Tricks

Sep 11

Written By Lindsay Priest

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Have you ever been driving with your toddler in the backseat and watched as they unbuckled their seatbelt, opened up the door, climbed out of their car seat, ran across the street, climbed back into the car and buckled themselves in? If you have then congratulations. You've just experienced your first taste of what it's like to have an independent toddler. It can be a stressful time for many parents who are used to having complete control over their child's movements but there are some tricks that make navigating this stage easier.

What is 'the independent stage'?

Let's start with the basics: What is this "independent stage" I'm talking about?

Well, it's a phase of development. It's a transition between toddlerhood and childhood. It's also a natural part of development that comes with its own challenges. In short, it's the time when your child begins to feel separate from you and their siblings—and therefore less interested in relying on others for everything they need. This can be both exciting and frightening for parents, who are suddenly faced with new challenges as they navigate their child's newfound independence while still maintaining healthy parent-child relationships.

The most important thing to remember during this period is that it doesn't last forever! Your child will eventually outgrow this desire for self-reliance, but until then you'll want to make sure you're providing plenty of guidance so he or she can grow into an independent person without getting hurt or making bad decisions along the way.

4 Tricks for Helping Your Toddler Become Independent

Give them a choice. When you're making dinner and ask your child if they want carrots or peas, give them the option of "Both!" or "Neither," too. This will make it easier for them to choose something that's not up to you—and feel really good about themselves!

Let them choose their clothes every now and then. It may sound like giving into what they want is a bad idea, but this is actually how we learn autonomy! They'll be able to pick out their own shirt in no time flat. You might even be surprised at how much they love getting dressed when they get older.
Let them make a mess—with crayons, not food around mealtimes! Not only does this show independence from an early age... but also helps develop creativity later on down the road when children grow up wanting nothing more than more art supplies than money can buy. Also: never ever let toddlers eat crayons; that would be dangerous for both child safety reasons (they're poisonous) and artistic ones because hey... who wants green poop?!

3 Tips for Navigating The Independent Stage

Navigating the independent toddler stage can be tricky. It's a period of rapid growth and development, but it's also a time when your child is testing boundaries and learning to assert his/her independence.

Set up some boundaries, be consistent with enforcing them (and don't forget to apologize when you slip up). Be patient as you help your little one learn the skills he/she needs to make good choices on their own.

Be encouraging—but not overly so! If your toddler wants something that isn't age-appropriate, tell him why it won't work in this moment (e.g., "You're too young for scissors") instead of saying no outright or making excuses for why it's okay for him not to do what he wants right now ("Because I said so").
When it comes time for playdates or playtime at home with friends who have younger siblings—or even just their friends who are still babies themselves—be careful about how much attention you give each child individually; if your two-year-old feels ignored by her parents' attention being focused on her best friend instead of her own whimsical endeavors (which may well involve playing cars in the sandbox), she'll want nothing more than for Mommy/Daddy dearest to come back over immediately!

It can be stressful when your toddler becomes independent, but remember it's a phase and with the right mindset and tricks, it's manageable.

As we all know, the toddler stage can be a difficult time for parents. The independent nature of young children can make it seem as though they're not listening to you and their behavior can be frustrating. Sometimes it feels like there's no way around the tantrums or meltdowns that come with this phase.

However, this is just a phase! As your child grows older and becomes more independent, they'll learn how to manage themselves better—and so will you! There are ways that both of you can keep your sanity during this period (and some tricks that even make it fun).

Keep scrolling for some of the best products to help your kiddos navigate this stage!

Good Luck, Moms and Dads!