Do you feel as if you are constantly telling your young child "no" or "stop doing that" to the point where you are frustrated? If you answered yes, then you are like millions of other parents trying to raise a normal well behaved toddler. Yes, it is normal for a child to forget what they were told ten minutes earlier. It is absolutely typical for toddlers to need repetitive discipline before they fully grasp a concept. It is not the child's intention to make you angry or to do "bad" things. They are simply curious little creatures who need to learn cause and effect first hand. Their action is the cause, and your action is the effect.
You can try and limit some of the need to tell the child no repetitively. You will first need to change your way of thinking and parenting. Do not assume the child is trying to be bad or misbehave. This will help cut down your frustration level. Take a proactive approach and remove any temptations the child may find in a particular area. Finally, instead of telling a toddler a laundry list of things he/she cannot do, tell the child the five things he/she can do.
Wouldn't it be easier to know you can bounce the ball on the deck but not in the kitchen? Toddlers have very short memory and attention spans and the rules may need to be repeated throughout the day, everyday for a couple of weeks or even a month. It is imperative a parent stays consistent with their rules. Rules that are constantly bending or shifting are difficult to remember and the child will be more likely to violate said rules. Changing your parenting style may not be easy to begin with, but the effort will soon pay off.
Do you want to learn exactly how to eliminate your child's out-of-control and defiant behavior without using Punishments, Time-Outs, Behavioral Plans, or Rewards?
