Pinky McKay shares important tip to make sure your toddler feels loved
It’s school holidays right now which means me and my toddler guy have been hanging out solo while my oldest is off spending time with grandparents.
My little guy has LOVED it. Well, we both have.
One kid is a bit easier on the juggling side of things. And thanks to no school lunches and only one drop off and pick up each day, I’ve noticed how much more attention I can give to him.
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He’s the youngest, and our kids are three years apart – so he’s kind of used to getting some leftovers in terms of attention. Well, that’s what I tell myself. But since this is pretty much the first solo-time we’ve had together since maternity leave (three years ago), I’ve realised that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love having me to himself. Or, all the attention.
Mothercraft nurse Chris Minogue, host of Babyology’s weekly live Helpline, reminds me that our toddlers need a lot more transition time, too.
So while older kids can kind of swan out of bed at 7am and leave in about 45 minutes with no real emotional consequences, that kind of rush does not suit Mr Toddler AT ALL. He wants a slow morning to get a full cup of Mummy before daycare starts.
Pinky McKay calls it filling up our toddler’s love tank. In a recent Instagram post, she reminded us that for the benefit of our toddlers, we really do need to slow down and smell the roses a bit more.
“Just as your toddler has physical needs for food, sleep and a gentle rhythm to his day, he has emotional needs for connection with you. He needs touch, eye contact and moments of focused attention to help him balance his calming chemistry at a physiological level and to meet his emotional needs for connection too.”
Filling up the toddler cup also reaps magical rewards later in the day, too. According to Pinky if we sow the seeds of calm and love and attention early, they will be less prone to being the argumentative and clingy littlies they’re often inclined to be.
“When you fill his little ‘love tank’ by tuning in to your terrific toddler, he will find it easier to express himself calmly, and you will find it easier to communicate with less frustration for both of you.”
Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it!