This one word could be the key to a happy toddler

If you really sat down and thought about it, as parents our most used word is definitely no.

Sometimes it's warranted, and sometimes it's fuelled by exhaustion and frustration.

But have you ever thought about what would happen if you just said yes more?

How can we say yes more?

One expert thinks we should have a think about how often we restrict our child's activities or behaviors because they are unreasonable, irritating or disruptive.

If you realise you're very much a 'no' parent, then you need to consider how you can say 'yes' more instead, says author and children's expert Aubrey Hargis.

According to the book Toddler Discipline for Every Age and Stage: Effective Strategies to Tame Tantrums, Overcome Challenges, and Help Your Child Grow, you may often be able to provide a positive alternative by creating a new opportunity for action or redirecting to a different activity altogether.

For example, if your child grabs a breakable object and bangs it on the floor, instead of saying, "No," maybe try: "Banging is fun. Yes, you may bang. Let's find something that isn't breakable."

And when you think about it, that approach does make a lot of sense when you're dealing with a toddler.

The idea is that by saying "yes" as often as possible, even to the things that are mildly irritating, our children will learn to trust that we are looking out for their best interests when we do set those limits.