Top five unhelpful things you can say to your toddler, especially if the child is crying, angry, sad or upset – learned from actual playground encounters:
- Sluta! (Stop that!)
- Skärp dig! (A direct translation would be “Pull yourself together!’ but I guess in English you’d say something like “Behave yourself” instead.)
- Vad är det för fel på dig?! (What’s wrong with you?!)
- Nu lägger du av. (You will stop that right this moment.)
- Varför ska du vara så jobbig? (Why do you have to be so difficult?)
Every time I hear a variation on this theme I can just imagine the toddler thinking, Thanks for the reminder – I had totally forgotten that crying is not the accepted method of argumentation in this setting. Of course I will stop. Not.
the only thing that works with my toddlers is to say that “crying will not help (to get what you want)” Suggestions for other helpful things to say are most welcome :-)