Navigating the ‘No’ Phase: Gentle Parenting Strategies for Ages 2–6

Frustrated by toddler “no” after “no”? In this post, Dr. Dave Schramm reframes this resistance as a bid for independence, not defiance. He offers empathetic strategies—like validating feelings, offering safe choices (“Carrots or grapes?”), and engaging playful problem-solving—to preserve connection while guiding behavior. With patience and creativity, the “tug-of-war” can become a bridge to cooperation, not conflict.