Negotiating with your Toddler?

There is this repetitive argument that keeps happening whenever I and my 4 year old son are walking around the hospital parking.

It is:

My son: I want to go there.

Me: No. Its crowded with cars over there. Lets go the other side.

My son: No I want to go there.

Me: Its risky and dangerous. Many cars cross that road.

And the argument continues until he turns to the other side angry, upset and says: I no like you. You not let me go on the road.

I notice what eases such arguments and hard times is when you put yourself in the head of your toddler. For example, when I told him: Let’s go that side. I saw two ambulance cars over there. He immediately got excited and accepted to walk that side.

Of course, there are moments when both you and your toddler need to accept the heated argument, both your perspectives clash and both are upset and not comfortable. That’s ok and often happens when parenting.

Finally, its interesting and sometimes frustrating to bounce back and forward when interacting with our children. But remember. Those would turn to sweet and precious memories later on.