Every day, we are drawn to an endless swirl of information: research findings, expert conclusions, advertising … However, when it comes to educating a toddler, life advice from one’s own experience is valuable. Winner and runner-up of the European and World Cup stages, multiple Olympics participant Julia Elistratova, who successfully combines a sports career and raising a two-year-old kid

1. Do not blow up on your child.
Of course, like all children, my child is also angry. He can cry demanding his own, but in such cases I do not shout, do not quarrel. I can even go away a little to calm him down, because he doesn’t always hear WHEN you start to calm down.
2. The child wants to be on his/her own and the parents only have to create the conditions.
I wouldn’t mind if our son became a professional athlete. I will direct, inspire, but I will not choose for him, the choice is only for him. If His soul lies in sports – we are only in favor. He is very active now, but parents are the best example for a child. Son already loves to run, swim. He has not yet learned to ride a bicycle, but he is already interested in technology. Although my husband and I are away from football, he already plays the ball well. We walk a lot, play outdoors, try to swim when there is possibility, especially in open water. We have high workloads, so the schedule may be different, but walking is a sacred event. Very often parents want to realize themselves in children and start to push, but it seems to me that this cannot be done. The child should want to be on his/her own, and the parents should only create the conditions.
3. Listen to your baby.
I belong to those categories of people who do not take authority unconditionally. Some tips I use, but each baby with a diaper is a personality, so it takes an individual approach. Sometimes you expect more from the doctors. I have my first baby and I don’t know many things. When I went to the doctors for advice, I was told, «It can be teeth, it can be cold.» So I could – I wanted specifics. Hopefully, there will be more opportunities in medicine. We need to teach young people, at one time I also wanted to hear at least minimal tips. This means that you need to listen to your baby, understand what she/he needs.
4. Grandmothers are better than the internet.
Some initial information on the Internet can be found, but it is not always true information. It should not be trusted completely. It is better to listen to the grandmothers, they help us well. For example, all my nutrition advice was given by my mom. She explained a lot: how to feed properly, remembered what I liked, told me how best a child can get in the diet everything needed for normal development. Advice from other young mothers who share the experience is also helpful.
5. There will be nothing without love.
Your baby can have different kinds of entertainment. Books are classics of a child’s upbringing and development. We have many books: informative or fairy tales. We are not against cartoons, though they are criticized – it is easier for a child to explain certain things. However, they must be carefully selected. Our first cartoon was «Teeny Love», now we watch «Malysharyky», «Fixiks». Toys are also important for development – tactile skills are developed, the baby is well versed in design. And these are not necessarily expensive toys, sometimes you can make a toy with your own hands. However, without this the child can do, but here without love there will be nothing! Much depends on the conditions in which the baby grows. The presence of parents is very important. Although all conditions are difficult, it is necessary to try to spend more time with the child. Children’s years pass, you will not return them. Therefore, you should talk as much as possible, be interested in what excites your child and praise many for his/her successes.