If you and your toddler are tiring of a constant struggle of the wills, remember the fantastic Montessori suggestion that, instead of telling a toddler to do something, give them two choices for accomplishing that task.

For example, instead of commanding, “Put your shoes on,” try, “Which one do you want to put on first: your left shoe or your right shoe?”

Or, instead of saying, “Get in the car; we have to go home now,” try, “Do you want to skip to the car or run?”