24 secrets of daycare teachers—steal their tricks!

When Imrie notices repeat behaviours, such as a kid who never wants to go outside or always has a hard time sharing, she’ll pay extra attention to that child for the next week or two to find a pattern. Is there a time of day when a toddler is particularly whiny? Do tantrums take place just before nap or snack time? The answers to those questions, she says, are important clues that can help you prevent specific behaviours altogether. Once you determine the cause, you can take actions to eliminate the cause. It could be as simple as adjusting a nap time, removing your kid from noise, providing more frequent snacks or turning down the temperature.